Nelson Mandela on Palestine
Nelson Mandela, Former President of South Africa
We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.
In December 1997, Nelson Mandela delivered a speech in Pretoria on the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. He said:
“We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians; without the resolution of conflicts in East Timor, the Sudan and other parts of the world.”
Mandela framed Palestinian freedom as part of a universal struggle against racial domination and colonialism. His statement remains one of the most cited expressions of solidarity from a major anti-apartheid leader, and it continues to shape debates about the relationship between the South African and Palestinian experiences.
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