Nelson Mandela's grandson and member of South Africa's National Assembly Nkosi Mandela said that if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) deemed that Russia should be suspended over Ukraine, Israel should face a similar penalty, during a press conference in Moscow on Monday.
"We were totally taken aback as South Africans that the IOC (International Olympic Committee) was able to suspend and expel Russia from the Olympics over the Russia-Ukraine conflict," he added. "If Russia has been suspended and expelled from Olympics, then we call for the Zionist usurping entity to also be suspended and expelled from the Olympics primarily because they have been found by the International Court of Justice to be carrying out a genocidal act against the Palestinians."
The ICJ has ordered Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah and called on the country to take steps to 'prevent genocide'. The court has not ruled on the central allegation of genocide in the case brought by South Africa, which Israel strongly denies.
Mandela also highlighted Russia's significant role in supporting Pretoria and the broader African continent.
"Russia has been extending its hand in terms of assisting our countries on the African continent in order to develop and create opportunities for our people and we continuously look to Russia, even 30 years into our democracy, we have been able to still consider Russia as one of the major countries that support our course, but it is also an economic partner who supports our economy and ensures that we are able to trade amongst the two countries," he stated.
He expressed pride in South Africa's association with BRICS+, viewing it as an extension of the ongoing development of ties with Russia.
"BRICS has afforded the global community an alternative to the unipolar system. We have for far too long been suffering by a unipolar system which has focused on one nation-state dominating the entire global community in trade, in culture, in sport, in everything," added the grandson of South Africa's first president.
The International Olympic Committee announced in March that Russian and Belarusian competitors would not be allowed to participate in the Paris Opening Ceremony, having earlier ruled that they could take part in the Summer Games but only as 'neutral' athletes - following the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict.
Russia claimed the latest move was 'absolutely contrary to the entire ideology of the Olympic movement'. French President Emmanuel Macron defended the participation of Israeli athletes under the Israeli flag, claiming that Israel was not 'attacking' but that it was 'responding' to a 'terrorist attack'. The Olympic Games in Paris are scheduled to take place in France from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympics held from August 28 to September 8.
If Russia suspended from Olympics, Israel should be too! - Nelson Mandela's grandson
Nelson Mandela's grandson and member of South Africa's National Assembly Nkosi Mandela said that if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) deemed that Russia should be suspended over Ukraine, Israel should face a similar penalty, during a press conference in Moscow on Monday.
"We were totally taken aback as South Africans that the IOC (International Olympic Committee) was able to suspend and expel Russia from the Olympics over the Russia-Ukraine conflict," he added. "If Russia has been suspended and expelled from Olympics, then we call for the Zionist usurping entity to also be suspended and expelled from the Olympics primarily because they have been found by the International Court of Justice to be carrying out a genocidal act against the Palestinians."
The ICJ has ordered Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah and called on the country to take steps to 'prevent genocide'. The court has not ruled on the central allegation of genocide in the case brought by South Africa, which Israel strongly denies.
Mandela also highlighted Russia's significant role in supporting Pretoria and the broader African continent.
"Russia has been extending its hand in terms of assisting our countries on the African continent in order to develop and create opportunities for our people and we continuously look to Russia, even 30 years into our democracy, we have been able to still consider Russia as one of the major countries that support our course, but it is also an economic partner who supports our economy and ensures that we are able to trade amongst the two countries," he stated.
He expressed pride in South Africa's association with BRICS+, viewing it as an extension of the ongoing development of ties with Russia.
"BRICS has afforded the global community an alternative to the unipolar system. We have for far too long been suffering by a unipolar system which has focused on one nation-state dominating the entire global community in trade, in culture, in sport, in everything," added the grandson of South Africa's first president.
The International Olympic Committee announced in March that Russian and Belarusian competitors would not be allowed to participate in the Paris Opening Ceremony, having earlier ruled that they could take part in the Summer Games but only as 'neutral' athletes - following the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict.
Russia claimed the latest move was 'absolutely contrary to the entire ideology of the Olympic movement'. French President Emmanuel Macron defended the participation of Israeli athletes under the Israeli flag, claiming that Israel was not 'attacking' but that it was 'responding' to a 'terrorist attack'. The Olympic Games in Paris are scheduled to take place in France from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympics held from August 28 to September 8.
Nelson Mandela's grandson and member of South Africa's National Assembly Nkosi Mandela said that if the International Olympic Committee (IOC) deemed that Russia should be suspended over Ukraine, Israel should face a similar penalty, during a press conference in Moscow on Monday.
"We were totally taken aback as South Africans that the IOC (International Olympic Committee) was able to suspend and expel Russia from the Olympics over the Russia-Ukraine conflict," he added. "If Russia has been suspended and expelled from Olympics, then we call for the Zionist usurping entity to also be suspended and expelled from the Olympics primarily because they have been found by the International Court of Justice to be carrying out a genocidal act against the Palestinians."
The ICJ has ordered Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah and called on the country to take steps to 'prevent genocide'. The court has not ruled on the central allegation of genocide in the case brought by South Africa, which Israel strongly denies.
Mandela also highlighted Russia's significant role in supporting Pretoria and the broader African continent.
"Russia has been extending its hand in terms of assisting our countries on the African continent in order to develop and create opportunities for our people and we continuously look to Russia, even 30 years into our democracy, we have been able to still consider Russia as one of the major countries that support our course, but it is also an economic partner who supports our economy and ensures that we are able to trade amongst the two countries," he stated.
He expressed pride in South Africa's association with BRICS+, viewing it as an extension of the ongoing development of ties with Russia.
"BRICS has afforded the global community an alternative to the unipolar system. We have for far too long been suffering by a unipolar system which has focused on one nation-state dominating the entire global community in trade, in culture, in sport, in everything," added the grandson of South Africa's first president.
The International Olympic Committee announced in March that Russian and Belarusian competitors would not be allowed to participate in the Paris Opening Ceremony, having earlier ruled that they could take part in the Summer Games but only as 'neutral' athletes - following the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict.
Russia claimed the latest move was 'absolutely contrary to the entire ideology of the Olympic movement'. French President Emmanuel Macron defended the participation of Israeli athletes under the Israeli flag, claiming that Israel was not 'attacking' but that it was 'responding' to a 'terrorist attack'. The Olympic Games in Paris are scheduled to take place in France from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympics held from August 28 to September 8.