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Hamdi commended South Africa for its bold move to take Israel to the ICJ, stating that it mainstreamed genocide and Apartheid in global discourse.
By YASEEN BARDIEN
In a powerful address at the offices of the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), British political analyst, Sami Hamdi, urged South Africans to reclaim their legacy as global champions of justice.
On a rainy June 26 in the Mother City, Hamdi addressed an audience of journalists, activists, religious leaders and parliamentarians. Hamdi delved into the geopolitical dynamics of the Israeli attack on Iran, the genocide in Gaza, referencing the shifting role of the United States, while offering a strategic blueprint for South African society.
His visit to South Africa comes at a time of heightened global tension and domestic political flux. While there is dwindling support for South Africa’s ruling party, the ANC, the country’s international standing was brought into the spotlight following its landmark genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Hamdi commended South Africa for its bold move to take Israel to the ICJ, stating that it mainstreamed genocide and Apartheid in global discourse.
‘It was South Africa that normalised that language,’ he remarked.
However, Hamdi was critical of the lack of support from Muslim majority countries, as well as from neighbouring African countries, noting that while ordinary citizens were inspired by South Africa’s courage, governments failed to offer economic or diplomatic backing.
He offered a detailed analysis of the recent escalation between Iran and Israel, framing it as a calculated Israeli attempt to shift global attention away from Gaza. According to Hamdi, Israel sought to provoke Iran into war, hoping to drag the United States into the conflict and in turn reframe the narrative.
He mentioned that Israel pitched the war on Iran as a campaign in the interest of the US. ‘They [the Israelis] thought [Donald] Trump would be like [Joe] Biden or [Kamala] Harris, who gave unfettered, blind support to the Israelis regardless of what happened.’
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He credited this restraint to a shift in American public opinion, driven by activism and social media.
Hamdi repeatedly emphasised the role of ordinary citizens in shaping global narratives. He cited the viral spread of images and videos from Gaza, especially on social media as the catalyst for changing minds, citing Candace Owens and Tucker Carlson.
Referring to Owens, who could not condone what Israel was doing, bombing children, he asked: ‘Where did she see it? CNN? BBC? CNBC? Fox News? She saw it on social media.’
Hamdi challenged the audience to take the initiative and use tools one has at one’s disposal, such as websites that can spread awareness. He highlighted that initially Zionist propaganda was organised, building their narratives quickly. ‘They mobilised quickly, they identified you as a threat and immediately they found the relevant people.’
While tools exist, he highlighted that there is a lack of action to create these tools. ‘What’s lacking is somebody to go out and say, “I will build it”.’ He referred to the impact these tools can have, referring to the recent US elections. ‘These tools got 3.5 million hits on US election day,’ he said.
There was also a question-and-answer session as attendees were given the opportunity to engage with Hamdi.
Hamdi’s visit to Cape Town was a call to action. South Africans have been reminded that they can make change, and it is a reminder that its history of resistance is not just a legacy to honour, but a responsibility to uphold.
