In Newcastle, Women’s Month commemoration efforts kicked off on August 2 with a visit from Palestinian ambassador to South Africa, Hanan Jarrar.

Jarrar also serves as the non-resident ambassador of Palestine to Namibia, Malawi and Lesotho. She was appointed in the position on January 28, 2020.

During her career as a Palestinian politician and diplomat, Jarar once held the position of Director General for Regional and International Relations in the Palestinian Ministry of Women’s Affairs, working alongside the then minister to help develop the concept notes for establishing the National Committee to Combat Violence against Women.

Jarrar was invited to Newcastle as a guest of businessman and medical practitioner, Dr Ahmed Jamalodeen, to engage with various local women’s organisations and civil society groups in order to bring awareness to the plight of women and children in Palestine, especially for those suffering in the midst of the on-going humanitarian crisis in war-torn Gaza.

According to Jarar, of the 60 000 people killed in Gaza in the past two years, 65 per cent are women and children.

Jarar’s visit to Newcastle follows her attendance to the three-day Liberation Movements Summit hosted by the ANC in Johannesburg from July 25 to July 28, together with a high-profile delegation from Palestine.

“The Palestinian delegation went on to participate in engagements in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and then they left. However, I felt that our engagement should not be limited to the big cities because we have a large constituency of supporters in all of South Africa. This is the reason I decided to visit Newcastle,” said Jarar, who added that, while this was her first visit to Newcastle, it will not be the last.“

The women’s organisations I engaged with in Newcastle, have expressed eagerness to host solidarity events supporting Palestinian women.

The support, in Newcastle, was overwhelming. It was amazing to have support, from women organisations in Newcastle, for the women in Palestine, in the month of women here in South Africa,” Jarar continued.

“Our engagement, in Newcastle, went very well. Women, who attended, wanted to know more about the situation in Gaza and wanted to know what they can offer in light of the starvation that is taking place.”

Jarar explained that, while the Palestinian embassy is inundated with offers to help with donations of food and cash, as an embassy, it is not in a position to accept any donations.

She advises that people who wish to make donations, be-it in kind or in cash, to do so through Gift of the Givers.

“Gift of the Givers has concrete channels in Palestine and will ensure that whatever you donate reaches its intended destination. They have an office in Ramallah and they used to have an office in Gaza. They also have their own channels in other areas, such as Jerusalem. We, at the embassy, have a very good relationship with Gift of the Givers and they are really doing great work.

“For example, they are the ones who brought 52 Palestinian students to South Africa from Gaza, who were in their last year of studying medicine, so that these students could complete their studies. Gift of the Givers provided these students with accommodation, paid for their university tuition and flight tickets, and even gave them pocket money. Of the 52 students, 25 were enrolled in the University of Cape Town. They have finished their studies and are now in Egypt as no one can enter Gaza right now. The rest of the students are completing their studies at Wits.”

“This initiative by Gift of the Givers involved a lot of complications and financial resources, but it is very important,” Jarar remarked.

According to Jarar, 600 trucks carrying aid are being allowed into Gaza each day, and the distribution process is controlled by the military.

However, this is not enough.

“In order to meet the urgent needs in Gaza, at least 3 000 trucks must be allowed to enter daily. It is very sad,” she said.

Jarar went on to commend the South African government for being the first to report to the International Court of Justice and the National Criminal Court.

She called this, ‘…a huge breakthrough in international relations.’

“In his keynote speech at the recent Liberation Movements Summit, President Ramaphosa was very clear that South Africa will continue in this case and no kind of pressure with change its position in this regard,” Jarar added.“On ground level, people all over South Africa are hosting events and demonstrations to keep the narrative alive, to educate people about the issues in these difficult times and to show solidarity. Exposure is always important to raise awareness about the situation. It is heart breaking to see people starving. The whole thing is very difficult to observe.”

Jarar, together with civil society organisations she engaged with during her visit, are planning a solidarity event which is expected to take place in Newcastle this November.

According to Jarar, the Newcastle event will take place in November as it is the month in which people around the world show solidarity for the people of Palestine.

The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is observed on November 29 since the General Assembly of the United Nations called for the annual observance in 1977.

“We usually host a major event in Pretoria or Johannesburg to commemorate the day. This year, there will also be an event in Newcastle and we invite everyone to attend,” said Jarar.

Jarar admits that the feeling of helplessness and powerlessness when you have nothing you can offer while people are starving, is overwhelming, even for her.

She is adamant, however, that, “As difficult as it is, we cannot live without hope.”

“Last week was very busy for diplomatic efforts,” she said, “We had the Hague Group, which is co-chaired by South Africa and Colombia, host an emergency conference in Bogota. The conference was attended by 30 countries around the world, not only from the global South, but Norway and Sweden also attended from Europe, in addition to many other countries. The New York Conference also took place last week, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France, calling for the reconstruction of Gaza immediately after the war ends, as well as an immediate ceasefire and the opening up of humanitarian corridors,” Jarar explained.“I do believe that the end of any conflict should come through the negotiation table. I do believe in peace and I believe negotiations will be the best way,” she concluded.

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