Pan-African Parliament Expresses Solidarity with Palestine Following Emotional Address by Ambassador Hannan Jarrar

In a touching opening session of the Committee Sitting of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) on Monday, the Ambassador of Palestine to South Africa, Her Excellency Hannan Jarrar, delivered an impassioned speech recounting the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza and highlighting the urgent need for a just and lasting resolution to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Speaking with conviction and deep emotion, Ambassador Jarrar painted a vivid picture of the worsening conditions experienced by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. She underscored the toll of recurring hostilities on civilian lives, the destruction of essential infrastructure, and the daily hardships endured by countless families. Her address resonated powerfully with members of the PAP, prompting immediate expressions of solidarity.

Following her presentation, the Pan-African Parliament issued a strongly worded statement affirming its commitment to stand with the people of Palestine. The statement conveyed grave concern over the “catastrophic humanitarian situation” in Gaza, which members attributed to ongoing Israeli aggression. The PAP called upon the international community to work with urgency to fully implement any ceasefire agreement and strive for a “permanent end of hostilities,” allowing for a critical new phase of early recovery and reconstruction.

The PAP statement also highlighted the institution’s unwavering support for the two-state solution, reiterating its conviction that this remains the only viable pathway to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Emphasizing the necessity of ending the Israeli “illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territory,” the PAP urged concrete steps toward the establishment of an independent, viable, and contiguous Palestinian state, as delineated by international law and the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Rejecting all forms of violations of international law and international humanitarian law, PAP members specifically denounced any attempts to displace or transfer Palestinian populations—whether from Gaza or the West Bank, including East Jerusalem—under any circumstances. They underscored the importance of intensified international efforts to end what was termed the “historic suffering of the Palestinian people” and to ensure the protection of their inalienable rights.

In closing, the Pan-African Parliament’s statement renewed its resolve to collaborate with global and regional bodies to foster genuine dialogue, encourage humanitarian relief, and pursue comprehensive solutions to the decades-long conflict. Ambassador Jarrar’s address, marked by her firsthand knowledge of the suffering in Gaza and a broader plea for justice, left PAP members determined to uphold their commitment to peace, human rights, and the ideals of freedom for all peoples.

The session concluded with resounding applause for Ambassador Jarrar’s heartfelt testimony and a reaffirmation of the Pan-African Parliament’s enduring solidarity with the Palestinian cause—a message that reverberates beyond the continental body and into the broader international arena.