Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read | 04 September 2025 | 18:00 CAT

📸 Activists Dr. Fatima Hendricks and Zukiswa Wanner join the Global Sumud Flotilla, standing in solidarity with the people of Gaza.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, a massive civilian-led mission to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, has set sail from ports across the world, drawing international attention. Ten South Africans form part of this unprecedented effort, which activists describe as both a humanitarian mission and a moral responsibility.

Among them is Dr. Fatima Hendricks, an occupational therapist and activist, who emphasised the moral accountability driving her participation. “There is an imperative for us to really emphasise the sacredness of human life. The genocide is really an example of where life is taken unnecessarily en masse,” she told Radio Islam International.

Dr. Hendricks explained that while governments have failed to hold Israel accountable, civilians are now taking up the role of resistance. “It is unfortunate that governments have failed us. We are actually as civilians now taking up the role of what governments should be doing. This flotilla is called Sumud – steadfastness – because the question is, where is our steadfastness as a global community to stand for the Palestinian people?”

She acknowledged the dangers involved but reiterated the flotilla’s clear objectives. “Our niyah is to open a humanitarian sea corridor to reach Gaza, to break the siege. There are going to be an overwhelming number of boats, the success lies in the long-term vision of Sumud,” she said, recalling past attempts like the MV Mavi Marmara tragedy where activists lost their lives.

Asked about the current mood aboard the flotilla, Dr. Hendricks described a spirit of resilience and unity. “The mood is one of Sumud, one of courage and determination. There is international cooperation, a bringing of beauty and light over the darkness.”

Joining the flotilla is Zukiswa Wanner, a writer and activist who returned Germany’s prestigious Goethe Medal in protest of the country’s complicity in the Gaza war. Wanner, the first African woman to receive the medal, explained in an interview with Radio Islam International that her decision was spurred by the systemic silencing of pro-Palestinian voices. “Germany canceled contracts for pro-Palestinian artists and applauded the Israeli collaborator in a joint Palestinian-Israeli film,” she said. “It was clear that Germany’s cultural policies were complicit in oppression, and I could not be part of that.”

Wanner further urged African voices to lead with moral clarity in global solidarity. “As Africans, we must see the broader picture – wars in Sudan, Congo, and even incidents like Marikana in South Africa are connected. Weapons tested on Palestinians are then deployed across Africa, causing death and suffering, all for capitalism, not humanity.”

She emphasised that solidarity requires action, not just words. “We have a responsibility to challenge injustice wherever it manifests, and this flotilla is a moment for ordinary people to demonstrate courage and compassion,” Wanner said.

Both Hendricks and Wanner called on ordinary people to continue amplifying the mission. “It’s up to each one of us to take on the moral responsibility to get behind this flotilla,” Dr. Hendricks concluded. “The more eyes on us, the safer we will be.”

Listen to the full interview on Sabahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat and Dr. Fatima Hendricks and Zukiswa Wanner.