Why do non-Arab countries support the Palestinian cause?

"We know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians." With these words, South African leader Nelson Mandela expressed his full support for the Palestinian cause in a powerful speech in 1997 during the "International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People."

Recently, many "non-Arab" countries have shown solidarity with Palestine, particularly after the events of October 7. This article explores the reasons behind this support and solidarity.

Ireland and Scotland

Unlike most European nations, both Ireland and Scotland have historically supported the Palestinian cause. Broadly speaking, the conditions Ireland experienced under British occupation mirror the current situation of the Palestinian people. In the 16th and 17th centuries, England confiscated large swathes of land from the native Irish in Northern Ireland and sent Protestant English settlers to inhabit them. This led to significant demographic changes, which closely resemble the Jewish migrations that came from the Soviet Union to Palestine—under British sponsorship—during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Unlike most European nations, both Ireland and Scotland have historically supported the Palestinian cause. Broadly speaking, the conditions Ireland experienced under British occupation mirror the current situation of the Palestinian people.

However, that isn’t the only reason for Ireland and Scotland’s support. Irish writer Patrick Cockburn, a specialist in Middle Eastern affairs, explains in an article in The Independent that "other reasons include the excessive force used by English/Jewish colonizers to eliminate Irish/Palestinian resistance movements.”

Cockburn highlights the Ballymurphy massacre in August 1971, “when 10 Irish Catholics were shot and killed in the working-class district of Ballymurphy in west Belfast. The British government and army claimed for years that the dead were IRA gunmen or had been throwing petrol bombs. But later investigations revealed that all the dead were innocent civilians – and the army’s actions were ‘unjustified.’”

This incident parallels many acts of violence that have occurred in various parts of Palestine in recent years. Given such similarities, it's easier to understand the words of John Brady, an Irish Member of Parliament and spokesperson for foreign affairs for the opposition party Sinn Féin, when he said: “We understand and empathize with the plight of the Palestinian people because we share a common history of colonization and oppression, and this understanding runs deep through our historical ties from the colonial era.”

Irish MP John Brady speaks out against Israel’s apartheid pic.twitter.com/97m94MvbNV

— PALESTINE ONLINE ?? (@OnlinePalEng) July 15, 2023

On the other hand, Scotland also has similar reasons for supporting the Palestinians. The Scots endured English occupation for many years and fought hard to gain their political independence from the British crown.

Scottish support for Palestine is particularly strong in the city of Glasgow. This can be traced back to 1887, when the Celtic Football Club was founded by a group of Irish immigrants who had been subjected to injustice and oppressed in their homeland. The struggle against imperialism has remained a core value among the club’s supporters. This was evident last October when Celtic fans were quick to show their unwavering support for the Palestinian cause. During several Scottish League and Champions League matches, Celtic fans proudly waved Palestinian flags in the stands.

Like Ireland, Scotland also has similar reasons for supporting the Palestinians. The Scots endured English occupation for many years and fought hard to gain their political independence from the British crown. Scottish support for Palestine is particularly strong in the city of Glasgow.

The Green Brigade fan group released a statement saying, “Celtic was born out of famine and oppression, a product of colonial rule, death and the mass displacement of people. It is because of this history that Celtic fans are renowned for their empathy and solidarity; consistently siding with the oppressed and destitute. The Green Brigade remains unequivocal in our support for the Palestinian people, as we have been consistently.”

South America

The current Israeli war on Gaza revealed the strong support for the Palestinian cause among the majority of South American countries, which can be attributed to three key factors.

The first factor is the rise of left-wing parties in these countries in recent years. In her study "Divergent Positions: How Can We Understand Latin America's Response to the War in Gaza?", researcher Sodfa Mohamed Mahmoud shed light on this point, noting that most Latin American leftist governments adopt a political stance against US dominance and hegemony in the region. By extension, these parties view Israel as an agent or proxy for the United States in the Middle East. Therefore, much of their support for Palestine stems from their opposition to the US and its ally, Israel.

The significant similarity between the history of the South American region and the current situation of the Palestinians has raised a strong sense of solidarity for the Palestinian cause. Comparisons are often drawn between the indigenous peoples of South America—who faced genocide and oppression at the hands of European colonizers after the discovery of the New World in the 16th century—and the Palestinians, who were forced to leave their homeland after the establishment of the Israeli state in 1948.

The second factor is the significant similarity between the history of the South American region and the current situation of the Palestinians. Comparisons are often drawn between the indigenous peoples of South America—who faced genocide and oppression at the hands of European colonizers after the discovery of the New World in the 16th century—and the Palestinians, who were forced to leave their homeland after the establishment of the Israeli state and the defeat of Arab armies in 1948. While there are substantial differences between the two cases, this comparison successfully evokes strong emotions among many people across South America. This sentiment was reflected in the numerous protests and demonstrations condemning Israel's acts of genocide in Gaza over the past ten months.

The third factor relates to the current demographic dynamics in most South American countries. In the late 19th century, waves of Arab migration from the Levant—including Palestine—began arriving in South America. These immigrants settled into their new communities, and over time, those of Palestinian origin became a significant demographic. For example, over half a million people of Palestinian descent live in Chile, making it the largest Palestinian population outside the Arab world. Additionally, many individuals of Palestinian origin have risen to influential positions in the power structures of South America, such as Chilean businessman and billionaire Alvaro Saieh, General Juan Pereda Asbún, who served as de facto president of Bolivia in 1978, former Brazilian president Michel Temer, former Honduran president Carlos Roberto Flores, and current Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele.

South Africa

On January 11th, South Africa submitted a legal file to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, consisting of 84 pages documenting the illegal actions of Israel in Gaza over more than 100 days. This action reflected South Africa’s strong support for the Palestinian cause in its struggle with Israel.

This stance can be explained by the significant similarities between the suffering of Black South Africans during the apartheid era and the current plight of Palestinians. South Africa was ruled by a white European minority from 1948 to 1994 under the apartheid system, which marginalized and oppressed the Black population. This regime was quick to support the Israeli state upon its creation, voting in favor of the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine in November 1947 and officially recognizing Israel in 1948.

On the other hand, Many Black nationalist movements in South Africa viewed Israel as a colonial state similar to the apartheid government. Black South Africans defended Palestinians because they saw them as brothers and comrades in the struggle against injustice and oppression. In 1990, direct relations were established between the Black leadership in South Africa and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), which was seen as the most prominent representative of the Palestinian cause.

For years, South Africa and Israel exchanged mutual interests in a cordial manner. Israel had played a crucial role in supplying weapons and military technologies to South Africa's apartheid regime, at a time when most nations refused to engage in economic or trade partnerships with this notoriously racist regime.

Israeli researcher Alon Liel explains the reasons for the close relationship between the two countries during this period in his book "The National Party in South Africa: A Shared Destiny with Israel.” He stated: "Every victory on the battlefield for Israel strengthened the belief of whites in South Africa that they could withstand the Black majority and ultimately prevail in what they saw as a just struggle."

On the other hand, many Black nationalist movements in South Africa viewed Israel as a colonial state similar to the apartheid government. Black South Africans defended Palestinians because they saw them as brothers and comrades in the struggle against injustice and oppression. In 1990, direct relations were established between the Black leadership in South Africa and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO), which was seen as the most prominent representative of the Palestinian cause.

Just two weeks after Nelson Mandela's release from prison, the South African leader traveled to Zambia to meet African leaders who had supported him during his imprisonment. Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was present at this meeting, and both leaders found common ground in their united struggle against racist regimes. This bond became more concrete after Mandela was elected president of South Africa in 1994. The support from South Africa continued, with the ruling African National Congress party (ANC) maintaining its unwavering support for the Palestinians, as seen in recent events at the ICJ.