South African Group Denounces Citizens Who Joined Israeli Forces and Took Part in Palestinian Killings
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have strongly condemned the involvement of Aaron Bayhack, a 22-year-old South African, and other citizens in what they describe as the genocide of Palestinians. The EFF released a statement on Wednesday, expressing outrage at Bayhack’s participation as a sniper in the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), as revealed in Al Jazeera’s documentary “The Ghost Unit.”
According to the report, Bayhack is part of a brutal team targeting unarmed civilians with live ammunition around hospitals under siege in Gaza. The EFF decried these attacks, which include shooting men, women, and children indiscriminately, further intensifying the suffering of Palestinians amidst a humanitarian crisis.
The EFF underscored that Palestine has endured over 76 years of Israeli occupation, marked by what they call a prolonged campaign of genocide and ethnic cleansing, particularly escalating in the past year. More than 100,000 Palestinians have been killed, with countless others still unaccounted for, as Israel continues its military assault through bombings, starvation, and the systematic destruction of homes, schools, and hospitals.
The statement also condemned the actions of snipers like Bayhack, who, according to the EFF, are used to “mercilessly target civilians” and commit horrific acts without accountability. Additionally, the IOF has been accused of brutal sexual assaults, home raids, theft, and extreme torture of Palestinian prisoners, all of which the EFF claims are carried out with “sickening joy,” as seen in several videos.
Referencing the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act of 1998, the EFF emphasized that any South African wishing to provide military assistance in Israel must first seek approval from the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC). The EFF announced its intention to investigate whether Bayhack had received such permission from the Department of Defence and questioned why he has not faced prosecution or had his citizenship revoked, as former Minister of Foreign Affairs Naledi Pandor had previously suggested.
The EFF warned that South Africa is not safe with citizens who “have no qualms about killing other human beings” living freely without consequences. They cautioned that while today the victims are Palestinians, tomorrow it could be South Africans targeted for their race, religion, or even simple actions, while the government responds only with shock and inaction.
In response to these concerns, the EFF has approached the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Department of Defence, urging an investigation into the matter. They insisted that any South African citizens who have joined the IOF must face prosecution for violating the law.
