South Africans Recognize Familiar Patterns of Oppression in Israel's Airstrikes on Qatar

South Africans See Echoes of Apartheid Era as Israel Strikes Qatar CAPE TOWN, South Africa - As the world watched Israel's airstrikes on Qatar, many in South Africa couldn't help but draw parallels with their own country's tumultuous past. For Gonda Perez, a 69-year-old dentist who witnessed the horrors of apartheid firsthand, the echoes were unmistakable. Perez remembers the day in the mid-1980s when South African military forces bombed a refugee camp in Lusaka, Zambia. "I stood in casualty, and I watched people come in with wounds, horrible wounds," she recalled. One man's gruesome injury still haunts her memory: "There was blood spurting so obviously it hit an artery or something out of his back... It was really horrible to look at." The apartheid regime's brutal suppression of dissent and its willingness to target civilians were hallmarks of a system that South Africans are still grappling with today. For Perez, the Israeli airstrikes on Qatar evoke a sense of déjà vu. "It's like history is repeating itself," she said. In the 1980s, South Africa's apartheid regime was at the height of its power, with military forces operating in neighboring countries to quell anti-apartheid movements. The bombing of the refugee camp in Lusaka was one of many atrocities committed by the apartheid regime during this period. Today, as Israel's actions in Qatar draw international condemnation, many South Africans are reflecting on their own country's past and its relevance to current events. "The parallels between what happened here and what's happening now are striking," said Dr. Ntombizodwa Mthembu, a historian at the University of Cape Town. Mthembu notes that both Israel and apartheid South Africa have been accused of using military force to suppress dissent and maintain control over their populations. "The use of airstrikes on civilian targets is a tactic that has been used by both regimes," she said. As the international community continues to condemn Israel's actions in Qatar, many in South Africa are left wondering what this means for their own country's future. For Perez, it's a reminder that the lessons of history must be learned and applied to prevent similar atrocities from happening again. Background: The apartheid regime in South Africa was characterized by its brutal suppression of dissent and its willingness to target civilians. The regime's military forces operated in neighboring countries to quell anti-apartheid movements, and the bombing of refugee camps was a common tactic used to intimidate and silence opponents. Additional Perspectives: Dr. Ntombizodwa Mthembu, historian at the University of Cape Town: "The parallels between what happened here and what's happening now are striking... The use of airstrikes on civilian targets is a tactic that has been used by both regimes." Gonda Perez, 69-year-old dentist who witnessed apartheid-era atrocities: "It's like history is repeating itself... I stood in casualty, and I watched people come in with wounds, horrible wounds." Current Status and Next Developments: As the international community continues to condemn Israel's actions in Qatar, many are left wondering what this means for their own country's future. The South African government has yet to comment on the situation, but it is likely that the country will continue to play a key role in international efforts to address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the meantime, many in South Africa are reflecting on their own country's past and its relevance to current events. For Perez, it's a reminder that the lessons of history must be learned and applied to prevent similar atrocities from happening again. *Reporting by Aljazeera.*