AhlulBayt News Agency: The KwaZulu-Natal ANC Youth League has called for the withdrawal of Israeli runners from the upcoming Comrades Marathon, citing the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine. The League stated that allowing Israeli nationals to participate in the event is unacceptable while their government continues its military campaign against Palestinians.
In a strongly worded statement, the Youth League labeled the inclusion of Israeli athletes in the iconic ultramarathon as a disregard for the suffering of the Palestinian people. “Israeli runners cannot be allowed to participate in the Comrades as if nothing is happening where they come from,” the League stated, referring to the escalating violence and alleged war crimes by Israel in Gaza, the West Bank, and broader Palestinian territories.
According to the statement, over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, with another 15,000 missing and feared to be buried under rubble. The League also pointed to recent admissions by Israeli officials of arming and training local gangs within Palestinian areas, comparing these tactics to those used by the apartheid regime in South Africa.
“This is exactly like what the apartheid government did — forming and arming vigilante groups to fight against freedom fighters,” the Youth League asserted.
The call has been described by some as a bold and progressive stance, gaining support from activists and solidarity movements across the country. The ANC Youth League urged all progressive forces to rally behind the demand, linking the Palestinian struggle with South Africa’s own liberation history.
The Comrades Marathon Association has not yet issued a response to the demand.
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