EFF leader Julius Malema has issued a stern warning to McDonald’s South Africa and Woolworths urging them to issue statements distancing themselves from the ongoing conflict between Palestine and Israel.
Addressing throngs of protesters outside the Israel embassy in Pretoria on Monday, Malema alleged that McDonald’s has been supplying Israeli soldiers with food during the conflict.
He urged the South African franchisees to officially distance themselves.
The EFF leader also demanded that Woolworths, which has previously been under fire from Palestine-aligned activists due to its food imports from Israel, remove all the said products from its shelves.
“McDonalds is giving the soldiers of Israel food. We want McDonalds South Africa to distance itself from what is happening in Israel,” Malema said.
“They have until the end of this month to distance themselves.
“Comrades, Woolworths has got a responsibility by the end of this month to remove every product on their shelves that comes from Israel.”
Malema further urged consumers to refrain from purchasing or consuming products imported from Israel as a pledge of solidarity to Palestine.
He encouraged people to go as far as discarding the products they had already purchased, emphasising that not even dogs deserve to consume these products.
EFF sides with Palestine
As the conflict between Israel and Gaza entered its 17th day on Monday, it was reported that over 5 000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, while more than 1 400 people have died following Hamas attacks on Israel.
Of this shocking number, the Palestinian Health Ministry confirmed earlier that at least 436 people were killed overnight in the occupied area.
Reiterating the EFF’s stance in the conflict, Malema said the red berets are not neutral but are in support of the Palestinians.
“We are here to do a simple task, to tell Israel and the world to know that we are on the side of Palestine. We are not neutral because neutrality during difficult times is equal to selling out.”
He rejected beliefs that Hamas is in the wrong, stating that fighting back is the only option the Palestinians have.
Malema asserted that when oppressed, one ought to fight for their freedom, an act he said the late president Nelson Mandela and several other struggle for liberation heroes did.
“When you are oppressed, the only option you have is to fight. That is what Hamas is doing, they are fighting for their freedom.
“Mandela did the same thing, took out the guns, and fought for the freedom of the people of South Africa.
“When you are oppressed, you only have one option, confront the enemy and shoot to kill, do not kiss the enemy, why do you want to kiss the enemy?”
Malema, an advocate for land expropriation without compensation, said the people of Palestine have lost their land and have nothing to lose in the fight against Israel.
“People came and took the land of the Palestinians, every year they extend their occupation. When you look at the map of Palestine, there is nothing left of land in Palestine.
“The people of Palestine have nothing to lose, they must stand up and fight for their freedom. Condemning Hamas is cowardice.
“I heard some people saying we cannot compare Hamas to Mandela and them, they are the same. [O.R Tambo, Chris Hani, Steve Biko] did the same thing as Hamas. There is nothing wrong Hamas is doing.”
EFF pledges to arm Palestine
Malema also vowed to arm Palestine to fight for their freedom, adding that when the EFF takes over after the 2024 elections, his government will remove the embassy of Israel.
“The EFF, when it takes over next year, is going to fund Hamas and make sure that Hamas has enough resources to fight for their freedom.
“We are not only going to arm Hamas, but we are also going to remove this embassy [Israel],” he said.
