Episode 3 Sumud It Up with Special Guest Activist Dr Jared Sacks and Exclusives with Dr Zaheera Soomar, Elham Mouaffak Hatfield and Zukiswa Wanner
Watch Level Up with Ziyaad, Nabihah, and Isa Plaatjes on Radio Islam International MW 1548
Episode 3: Sumud It Up with Special Guest Dr Jared Sacks - Activist and Exclusives with Dr Zaheera Soomar, Elham Mouaffak Hatfield and Zukiswa Wanner
Sunday 21st September 2025 / 28th Rabi ul Awwal 1447AH 14h00 - 15h00 (CAT)
Listen to Level Up with Ziyaad, Nabihah, and Isa Plaatjes on Radio Islam International MW 1548
Episode 3: Sumud It Up with Special Guest Dr Jared Sacks - Activist and Exclusives with Dr Zaheera Soomar, Elham Mouaffak Hatfield and Zukiswa Wanner
Sunday 21st September 2025 / 28th Rabi ul Awwal 1447AH 14h00 - 15h00 (CAT)
Transcript
Dear listeners, it's 9 minutes past 2 on this 28th day of Rabiel Oel 14:47 ah
which corresponds to Sunday the 21st of September 2025 as we have been for the past few weeks
and again today we are coming to you live from the radio Islam international studios in Johannesburg South Africa.
I'm Zad Plachies and with me in the studio are my co-hosts Nabia and Issa Plachis and my namesake Zad will be
looking after us in the studio this afternoon inshallah. Welcome to Level Up where we listen, learn, and grow
inshallah with Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala's guidance and we break down the week's news and talk about what really
matters to young Muslims today. Our WhatsApp line is open. The number is
072-7861548 or you can call in on 01854702.
[Music] Today is a jam-packed program that's on a more serious level as we delve into
the world of social justice and a global ummah. Issa will be sharing a dua poem
for the children of Palestine later on in the show. Just after the half hour, we'll be chatting to activist Dr. Jared
Saxs and throughout the program we'll be sharing experiences from humanitarians Ilha Mofak Hatfield and sailing the seas
with the global summed flotillaa experiences from humanitarian Sukiswa va
and Dr. Zahira Suma. But first, let's get into this week's news with Zad.
So, this week's news has been headlined by the amazing initiative of the global Sumud Flotilla. So, those of us who have
heard the word sumud but are not sure what it is, Issa has a little definition he would like to share.
Sumud is an Arabic word meaning steadfastness,
perseverance and resilience. According to a mental
health guide book for those concerned about Palestine,
it says that the concept of steadfastness
has been a principle that Palestinians have embodied when the oppressors has
used every means at their disposal to otherwise uproot and erase them. Shukran
isa for that uh yes it is a concept deeply embedded in Palestinian culture
representing an active ongoing form of popular resistance against oppression. This everyday resistance manifests as
holding on to one's identity and culture refusing to be displaced from one's land
and continuing daily life and community efforts even in the face of hardship such as rebuilding homes or planting
olive trees after destruction. So the global Sumud flotilla is a coordinated non-violent fleet of mostly
small vessels sailing from ports across the Mediterranean to break the Israeli occupation's illegal siege on Gaza. It
brings together a diverse coalition of international participants including those involved in previous land and sea
efforts like the Mahreb Sumud Flotella freedom flotella coalition and global
movement to Kaza. Each boat represents a community and a refusal to stay silent
in the face of genocide. Delegations from 45 countries are participating and
South Africa has a few representatives too. Alhamdulillah. Earlier this week, the South African
crew set sail from Tunisia to meet up with other boats who have left from Italy, Spain, and Greece. Alhamdulillah.
As Nabia mentioned, some of the crew have shared their experiences thus far, which we will be playing throughout the
show, inshallah. I actually think we need more than one hour, especially to break down and
unpack everything, but let's not waste time and let's get into it. So, we have been in constant
communication with some of the crew on and off the boats and Nabia managed to chat with Dr. Zahi Sumar earlier this
week. Yes, I did. Alhamdulillah. We know that all of those whom we spoke to, including our guests who will come on later on in
the show, um they're extremely busy, but alhamdulillah, they have made time for us and for you, our dear listeners. May
Allah reward them well in this world and the hereafter. We've asked each delegate
similar questions, but alhamdulillah, they all had such unique answers. Um, we
asked them questions about their journey, the challenges that they faced, how they prepared for the journey both
mentally and physically, their interactions with other delegates, and their message for our listeners. So,
here's the first conversation from Dr. Zahira Sumar.
Asalam alalaykum. This is Zahira Sumar, one of the South African delegates on the global Sumud
Flotilla. Um, it's now Tuesday 16th of September and it's day two at sea. Um,
since I've left Tunis, we are now in international waters and we have met up
with the rest of the flotillaa um, boats in international waters. Currently we are about 17 boats from
Italy and around 17 boats um from Barcelona and Tunis. Um and we are going
to receive more from Tunis and Greece um taking us over over 40 boats um in
international waters. Alhamdulillah.
Yeah. Over the past um two weeks prior to jumping on the boat, there's been, you know, immense training, meeting of
colleagues, just preparing for the journey. um dealing with crisis that we didn't even think would come up. It's
it's been nothing but easy. Um however, it I truly see it as kind of field
training and a test of resilience and summar. Um it's nothing compared to what the
people of Kaza face. And so it really was a test to see do you kind of do you
have what it takes to to undergo this journey that we're about to embark on because if you you know it was there was
a lot of things that were chaotic and frustrating and um you needed to be
agile, you needed to be you needed to have patience, you needed to have tolerance and so those two weeks really
tested all the things that you would potentially need on this journey um as we set sail to to Khaza. So it's been a
it's been a long journey coming already. We've been through quite a bit already. But like I said, you know, when it
doesn't pale in comparison to what the people of Kaza are facing and therefore,
you know, it makes it easier to kind of succumb to it, to just surrender, to go with the process, and to just let it be.
I have an amazing team on board. Um I am a my I'm the boat manager for my team, for my boat. Um so I work very closely
with the captain um and I manage the team on board and I make sure that we do what we need to do things like um making
sure that our supplies last that we're managing our fuel that we're managing whatever needs to be managed on the
boats um everybody contributes towards the daily tasks around um just
housekeeping around cooking around um sleeping arrangements night watch duty
mental health um physical health etc. There's a lot of things that need to be done. Um, and we have to work
collectively as a team and it's my job to make sure that everybody contributes works collectively as a team and that we
have a good dynamic on board and we all get along for the sake of the mission that we undergoing.
as we set I mean like I said as we as before we left we had a number of challenges around bureaucracy around um
boats being ready mechanical fixtures we even had sabotage um I where the two
drone track drone attacks but there's been many sabotage um in other processes um around the boats and also getting the
boats out of the harbor and so it really has been challenging but um alhamdulillah we've made it and since we
set sail there's there hasn't been a shortage of challenges either there's a number of things that come and that you
have to deal with on a daily basis. But despite all the challenges that we
have faced over the past 2 and 1/2 weeks while while being on land and while being on the boat um we remain, you
know, steadfast. We have summed in our hearts. Um we are committed. We it's a
it's it's also just a test for us and it's just a learning curve for us. Um which we're immensely grateful for. to
also just forge relationships with many people of solidarity who stand for the same values and principles as you has
been amazing. Um, and just forming these relationships on the boat. Um, you know, there's the saying that you never really
know a person until you live with them or you marry them or you travel with them or you do business with them, right? Um, and so being thrown on a boat
where you over capacity with people of all different cultures, nationalities,
um, languages, etc., and under difficult conditions, not easy conditions. This is
not a luxury trip. This is difficult. It's hard. We have a lot of things to do. Really, really tests a person. But
alhamdulillah, you shine and you shine bright. And the relationships that you forge are stronger. Um, and you're bound
by each other. Um, and it's amazing. It's amazing. And so, you know, we we try and keep the mission
in hand and, you know, focus on that. And that just brings us closer together as a family.
So as we embark on this journey, we do have a request for everybody else, both young and old to continue this fight and
support in this movement. Um do what you can, you know, um amplify your voices.
The youth are the youth play a very big role when it comes to decolonizing or
movements or kind of taking a stand. Your your voice is stronger than you think. Um you know, take a stand. Use
your voice. Um empower yourself and push push people, companies, governments, you
know, communities, neighbors, families. Push people to be different. Start at home. Um and then work your way out. And
each of us have a role to play. And so don't ever think that you are just one person and don't ever think that your
voice is too small. One person makes a difference, right? One person. It takes
one person to have a domino effect on others and it can lead to a massive change. So I encourage you to do your
part, play your part, have your say, use your voice and really drive change
because everybody needs to come to the table right now for the people of Palestine.
Alhamdulillah, that was such inspirational advice. Alhamdulillah, what a brave soul.
Alhamdulillah. Well, sometimes we we set our goals. I mean they alhamdulillah Dr. Zahir is on
the boat but we set our goals on something and we do everything we can to achieve that goal but sometimes certain
things are out of our hands. Yes that's true. So for sister Ilamak Hatfield who was part of the delegation
who left South Africa for the global summit flirtillaa experienced this this
week and this is what she had to say. So the journey in the global sum flila
started um after the global march to Gaza. Um well for the past 2 years we've been
listening hearing um what is happening in Palestine uh where people family in
Gaza are being uh anniated. Um there is so much going on there and
uh unfortunately not much uh is happening all over the world to fight
against it. So the global movement is an amazing movement where people gather uh
to fight for justice. I am part of uh the movement. As soon as I heard about
the global school for I needed to be part of it. So we had to do an
application uh and then you have to obviously uh answer questions uh you get
selected um not a lot in South Africa uh not a lot in UK not a lot everywhere
actually a lot of people wanted to be part of it unfortunately they couldn't we were honored to be part of it so you
arrived we arrived in Tunis end of August uh we had uh many many days of uh
trainings Uh um I have to remind uh you that it is
a nonviolence action mission, humanitarian mission to bring a uh uh in
Gaza because uh there is a a blockade um that the Israelis uh have been put that
in action for for the past year or so. Well, in fact, the genocide live I'm
talking about live genocide is for the past two years, but this uh this is way
longer than that. Uh 75 years in silence and 2 years uh in broad daylight.
As soon as we could be part of this movement, we jumped in. Uh we followed all the steps. We had a lot of protocol
to follow. Um and we've met a lot of people from all over the world. Um
different ethnicity, a different different religion, different social um
uh level um work. Um it was actually
extraordinary uh to be able to be in the same room with people that share the
same views uh one and only humanity um
and try to give a hand to people in distress that are massacred every single
day. And when I say people, I'm including obviously women, pregnant women, elderly, kids, babies, newborn
um that can't uh live um eat. Uh we've got a manmade starvation. No matter what
you see on air in the mainstream, know that uh that are lies. Um they are not
showing you the truth. They are saying there is no star version. Well, open uh your your your eyes. I mean like really
um we've got people in Palestine, in Gaza sharing their own video. Um those
are not movies. They are not uh Hollywood movies. They are true human
beings suffering and staying back and doing um being inactive. it is not in
our uh we can't we can't just stay inactive.
I mean I'm a human and a humanitarian. So I follow my comrades on this action
and um yeah let's hope that uh the remaining people that could go on
the floor uh will succeed inshallah and I really pray we really pray for them.
The challenges that we faced is um it's a big mission so we need to
do that by the rules. Uh obviously um we
have paperwork to be accepted by the authorities in Chileis. Um the boat has
to be fit to sell. Uh we've got um civilians on board. We don't want to
have any problem in the middle of the sea. Um and yeah, everything has to be
approved. Unfortunately, we faced some delays um and uh technical issue and we
had two drones attack uh uh on the Tunisian
waters which is absolutely incredibly crazy.
And um and for my part um actually I got
sick, Nan got sick. Uh I got beaten by a dog if you want to
know the truth the day uh when the first day when we were supposed to go to the
to the port. Um I had mash Mari shirts but yeah it was it was a bit uh
complicated bizarre. Um but it didn't stop us. We wanted to go and
we were determined to do good which is uh to sell and bring humanitarian aid to
Ghana. Unfortunately um because of those technical issues uh with the boats um we
had to cut down participants volunteers and um I was part of those people and uh
my journey stopped there. Uh yeah, very disappointed. But um like
you say, it's written. Unfortunately, um uh I couldn't be on board, but I'm still
on board our mission. This is a movement that won't stop until
Palestine is free and and uh that our families there in Raza are fed. And I
can't say save because we it's not us that government has to do something. We
only civilians that are carrying humanitarian aid and medicine baby
formulas uh to a place where nothing can go in.
So that was my personal uh my personal
story. How do you prepare mentally uh for this
type of mission? Well, um it's like
you can't just sit back and watch atrocities going on over and over, broad
daylight for 2 years, violence uh for 75 years and do nothing. It's like seeing
someone being beaten in front of you and just stay back and say, "Oh, okay. It's not my problem. Leave it." No, we can't.
Are you human or you not? Our focus was helping and we were just like going for
uh to bring humanitarian aid, medicine, food uh and I will repeat again baby
formula. Yes. Because that has been uh stopped prohibited to get in Gaza. So we
just like had to do it. You pepper mentally, physically, you support each others. You get the strength from each
others. You just have it or you don't have as a human. I have. So,
you can't just like ignore the atrocities, the massacres, the it's an
ethnic uh cleansing uh being uh carried by Israel. The IOF is is a horrible
horrible uh army. They say they call themselves the most moral army in the
world. It is not true. Absolutely not. They are the horrible most horrible
people on earth. The South African delegation
uh were composed with amazing people who were 10
uh beautiful human being um from different uh background. Um we had
doctors, writers, um um humanitarians, activists. Um we had um people like you
and I. I mean beautiful u ship mena was part of the
the team our leader of uh honored to
have spent times with with him. Um we were a big family. Everybody understood
each others. Beside our delegation, I'm talking about each and every delegation. We all understood each others. We are we
had one focus was um humanity,
love, peace and justice. So we understood each others, we were
supporting each others. We were we had someone that was sick who were like trying to help her as well. I got sick.
Um they helped me as well. But um that was just exhaustion and a bit of uh uh
stress because of the waiting and uh issue that we faced um I repeat we had
uh technical issues we had paperwork um problem and we had drones attacked so it
kind of like play in your mind but beside that nothing could stop us we were determined the South African
delegation didn't step down one bit or contrary I thought it was absolutely
beautiful to see that um yeah, I was very very proud to be part of this team.
We're still part of it. As I said, the movement is a an ongoing one until
peace is uh met and done.
Uh what can the audience um do?
Well, shout for peace and justice.
shout um write um emails um posts
um reach the government um ask for this end of
occupation genocide. It is a genocide test apart
states that is happening here right here right now uh for the past 77 years. Um
it's it's it's it's time to to take some action. It's time to just
do one tiny bit of a thing. keep on talking about the injustice that is
going on in Gaza. Israel has no right,
no right to inflict this misery, this massacre. They are
killing without impunity. They've been judged at the International
Court of Justice in the Hag in Netherland and yet no one has been
arrested. Call on them. the ICJ, the government, the IC, write emails,
call them, don't stop posting, educate your entourage. A lot of people don't
even know what is going on. We've been blinded by what mainstream are showing, which is not a lot propaganda. Please
make the different to the difference between the reality, the truth, and the
propaganda. Did you know that Israel has spent billion millions of dollars on
publicity adverts to go against the reality
of the action without impunity? They are saying that there is no
genocide. They are the most moral army in the world.
Come on. educate your people and tell them as well please we billion
on earth do something
I beg you just try do something
what a heartfelt message uh from sister Ilhham Shukran for sharing your
experience later on this show we're going to have Zukiswah Vana share her experience or her journey on the
flotilla. Issa will be reciting a short poem for the children of Palestine. But after the break, we have activist Dr.
Jared Saxs on the line. And welcome back to level up. If you've
just tuned in, we have been talking all about the global summed flotilla. Later
on, I'll be sharing a poem/dua for the children of Palestine. But right
now, we have our guest on the line. Our WhatsApp line is open. The number is
0727861548 or you can call in on 011854722
if you have any questions for Dr. Jared Sax. Jared Sax is an activist and writer
based in Cape Town. He has a PhD from Columbia University and is currently a
post-doal fellow at the University of Johannesburg. He has long been involved in struggles for land, housing and
social justice in South Africa, including compiling the anthology no land, no house, no vote by the symphony
way pavement dwellers. His current focus is on Palestine solidarity where he
plays a leading role in South African Jews for a free Palestine.
Good afternoon, Jared. How are you this afternoon? Hi, good afternoon. Thanks for having
me. I'm doing well. Uh, thank you for for for joining us. Firstly, we would like to thank you for your efforts and your continued drive to
raise awareness and aid those who are suffering. Um, we're so sorry to hear
that you were all ready to board in Tunis, but due to difficulties, not everyone had the opportunity to continue
the journey. Um could you please share with our listeners what actually happened?
Well, you know, uh, a flatilla grouping like this is a huge exped um, huge
process, huge expedition and it requires a lot of work, a lot of moving parts and
you know when um, we're trying to organize 60 boats 40 60 boats to all go
to Gaza and you know trying to make it safe, trying to make it um, uh, you
know, make sure there's food, make sure there's aid on board and everything. What you're um you know sometimes things
don't go to plan and so a lot of the boats that we were we were hoping to get
on ended up not being uh seaorthy and we weren't able to get on the boats. So we
had to cut down the number of people who went um so a few hundred people weren't able to go um including
uh half the South African delegation which was 10. So only five got to go
unfortunately. Um but in the end there's still about 40 boats out there. Um and
um it's hopefully going to have uh still have the kind of impact that we aim to
have. Inshallah we hope that they re um they reach safely. Uh Jared, I know that this
is not your first campaign or your initiative that you've been involved in. I believe a few months ago you were also
involved with the march to Gaza. Um could you tell us a little bit more about that and your um involvement in
it? Yeah. So the march to Gaza was um collection of you know a few thousand
people from all over the world who flew into Cairo uh to march to the border of
Gaza and you know put pressure on the Israeli government to open the um the
Guta border and end the siege on Gaza. And um it was you know one of those
kinds of initiatives where the prospects of success are low but if there is
success it would have you know changed the dynamics significantly. So we all
knew that it was unlikely we were able to re reach the um Gaza border but we
wanted to try anyway um just in case it could have an impact. um uh we didn't
maybe realize how heavy-handed the uh Egyptian government would be and how
much they would you know um back the Israeli regime and protect them.
Um and uh so unfortunately we were immediately when leaving uh Cairo we we
got stopped at roadblocks and held without our passports for a few hours
before being forced back to go to um Cairo. Sure. Yeah. I believe that um there's
like 14 checkpoints before the Rafa border. Is that true? I'm not sure how many um but there were
three checkpoints that we had to go through just to get to uh Islamia which
is on the Red Sea. Um before you even get into the Sinai. Um but those checkpoints were set up,
you know, specifically to stop us. Um they're not normal checkpoints. I think
once you get into Sinai, there's a bunch more checkpoints because northern Sinai is a, you know, military area and only
residents are kind of allowed in there. Sure. That's
Yeah. Um Jared, tell me uh I mean obviously with that march, it obviously
set off this global sum flirtillaa. Um what what can people do? How can the
youth be more active? How can they raise more awareness? because obviously it's I I feel like you guys well everybody has
made an impact cuz I mean alhamdulillah we're moving forward and we're getting there. So what can we do to just amplify
that? So I I would suggest that everyone can go to the global salute flutilla website
and uh follow the progress of the boats which there's a tracker that shows all
42 boats and where they are at. Um, so you can see how far away they are. They're now between Italy and Greece.
Um, so they're about 4 days away from Gaza. Uh, so you can follow um, everyone
there. And you can also get involved. Um, you can promote things online, you
can share on social media, and you can get involved with with local Palestine solidarity organizations.
um you know there in in in every city there's um there's people organizing to
support Palestine and they need support. They need um you know people to come to their events to the protests. They need
people to organize uh events. They need people to you know raise awareness. Um so that's something
else you can do. And then um you can follow the BDS campaign and boycott um
you know the items that um are um made by companies complicit in the
genocide. So for instance, Coca-Cola, um you know, McDonald's,
uh Starbucks, um those types of organizations, but also Cape Union Mart
here in South Africa, which is a South African organization that is complicit in in supporting the IDF
um and um supporting the campaign to end
um coal exports to to Israel. Many people don't realize this, but South
Africa exports the third third highest amount of coal to Israel in the world.
And even though our government supports Palestine, they they haven't stopped this aid. I mean, stop this coal going
to Israel, which they should be doing. It should be very basic. So during that
campaign would be important as well.
Thank you very much, Jared. Um I think uh our listeners can really take uh some some of that advice if they have not
already done it. Thank you very much for joining us this afternoon. Um keep doing the amazing work which you are doing and
we wish you all the best for your future campaigns. Thank you and and please uh support and
pray for the people on on the boats. Um some of my friends are on that on on these boats and they need all the
supports that they can get. We definitely will. I I believe that you were quite a community when you got
together and um it's a bit hard saw that some of you had to stay behind and and
others went. Um yeah, but uh we they're all in our prayers. They all in our duas and we wish them a
safe journey inshallah. Amen. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much Jared. Um we'll chat
soon. Okay. Take care. Take care. Bye. Sure. That is
it's crazy. Yeah. So I mean this has been going on for so
long and you really wish by now something would happen and so many points uh at Rafa and just to get to
Gaza and for the people of Gaza to get out you you you would think now by now please you know someone help them do do
something can something just happen. That's so sad because um the Islamic so-called Islamic states are the ones
that are Yeah, that is sad. But alhamdulillah, we've heard quite a few accounts of those
those who were on and off the boats today and um
so shall we go to Issa's poem now? Yeah, I think we we're running out of time.
Oh, okay. I thought we'll go to one more, but okay. If we do have time then we can play Zukis's um
experience. Experience. Okay. So, Issa, are you ready? We'd like to hear your dua poem
for the children of Gaza.
Our hearts are heavy. Our spirits pray for the children of Palestine. Every
single day in their eyes we see strength so true facing hardships me and you. Oh
Allah the most kind, the most just. Protect them, guide them, strengthen
their trust. Heal their wounds both seen and unseen.
Bring peace to their lands. Make their future serene.
Let their laugh for every child who dreams and plays.
Grant them safety in countless ways. Let their laughter fill the air.
Free from sorrow, free from despair. Oh Allah, hear our humble plea. Bring
justice and freedom for all to see. Let peace bloom in their cherished land
united together hand in hand. Amen. Amen. Mashallah shukran isa for that. I
think we can play um zukiswa's a little bit of her journey just before we we we
um end off today. Okay. Alhamdulillah. It would be nice because she is part of the global summ
flirtatillaa. So keep in mind the same questions that we did earlier. Here is the conversation from Zukiswa.
I left uh South Africa on uh the 31st of
uh August and uh
we were informed that we would have 4 day training uh 3-day training and then we would depart on the 4th of September.
But uh it didn't quite happen. I left South Africa and then I flew to Egypt
and then from Egypt I contact connected to Tunisia. So the training was
happening in Tunisia. Uh and we stayed there for a while and uh one of the
things that delayed us from departing was we were waiting for the other boats to come and join from uh Europe and um
they came and they joined and uh our new depart departure date was um the 10th.
The delay was particularly useful. uh we didn't think it was initially but it was particularly useful because we really
got to know each other as the team South Africa we uh after after our initial
rentals uh ran out we uh the people at home made a plan and they got us
supported and uh we got to two accommodations for the men and for the
women and it was very very enlightening uh just getting to
know each other and being uh sisters and being brothers and having one family
essentially. And then we departed
after we departed and then and then we stayed there and yeah we departed from
the accommodation cuz we were supposed to leave on uh Wednesday.
Uh again that didn't happen as it should have because remember there were some uh
attacks on uh two of our boats. So they needed
to be repaired and we needed to wait for that to happen and that's essentially what we did. Then people started
departing being put in the different boats on Sunday.
uh we had a team of 10 at South Africa uh but one of our members got ill so
we're left as nine and uh then um we
further had to cut down because we had um because of the damage boards and uh
everything else that had happened we could only send a smaller delegation. The first two members of our delegation
left on the on Sunday, two of them, and
then we had somebody else leaving on Monday. And Riaz and I accounted for the
last uh pair of uh people. So we uh in
total then South African delegation is five people as opposed to the original
10 that we're supposed to go. And we for my sake we left on Thursday.
We left on Wednesday evening, but everybody got so seasick that the
captain made a U-turn and went back to port and we slept there. And then um in
the morning he made his way uh Thursday
like we left at 4:00 in the morning from Gamat in Tunisia uh all the way and uh
now we have caught up with everybody which is um uh really wonderful to to
do. So it's been just like exciting to see all these boats from uh that were a
part of it. And as I was saying elsewhere, it's an indication really how
you know human beings are social beings because we last saw some of these guys on Sunday but we are very excited and we
are yelling and like oh my god you know so to put it in perspective if you can
imagine that the people of Kaza have lost people that they've known all their
lives whether it's family members or friends those who are still surviving
And what that does because we bonded so seriously with people in 2 weeks. What
happens then for people who have known each other their whole lives and then you lose your friend, you lose your
brother, you lose your sister. It's um it really puts everything in
perspective. going the main challenges that we've faced really has just been uh sea sickness and
um and of course I mean obviously the other boats as I mentioned that were attacked uh which delayed us so and I
understand we're about to get into stormy weather so that's going to be quite something to experience
um and dare I say I'm I have a little bit of trepidation But I I think still the end
goal is uh for all of us to ensure that we create this humanitarian uh passage
and we get to Kaza. So I'm hoping that we all manage to and that no storms
formed against us shall prosper. Just as a final uh it's important to highlight
that the perpetrators of this and the people who are uh providing weapons are
all interlin. They are the same people. Those weapons that are tested on
Palestinians in Gaza are the ones that are exported to uh and and and given to
the RSF and killing our brothers and sisters in Sudan. There are also the
same weapons that are going to um our people and killing our people uh via the
M23 in uh in in in the Congo. They are
also the same weapons that find themselves in Haiti, you know, where
there is a civil war. And I'll tell you, it might sound farfetched, but if uh
your listeners look up Bio from Haiti, who is uh the richest man in that
country and his involvement and how he was at some point in time banned from a
country like Canada for weapons trading. So this is worth like knowing that you know the the the 1% are just that the 1%
but there is uh people within the 99% that is us the majority of the citizens
that are also like upholding um uh you know and protecting these people
and we we need to to hold them to account as well that like no fam you know uh first today is Gaza tomorrow
it's like Newcastle or some other place, your little village or whatever. So
yeah, it's it's it's important that we understand all this in its entirety and
to understand that it's beyond just one country, you know, uh even the gold
that's taken from Sudan is taken to UAE. Similarly, the gold that's taken from Zimbabwe, the one that's taken from
South Africa by Sure. It's very inspirational and we had to have all of these conversations but
um it looks like we have to cut some of them short. So there will be more
information on our website www.ilz.com.
So to find out more about these humanitarians and activists um their information as well as to hear all that
they have spent um their time telling us. Yeah, they took they took their time. took their time to they very busy on the
boat and as well as the ones who wanted to be on the boat like Dr. Jared Sax and Ilhham who who sent in voice notes and
Dr. Jared Sex who um he just arrived the other day. I mean he's also busy traveling and he took the
time to so we all and I mean we could we we could have spoken to him much longer but um yeah
time like you said we need more than an hour but to them to who is behind the scenes
there the other looking after us behind the scenes
to our dear listeners for joining us on this lovely Sunday afternoon where our show took to the global scene is
striving for a united and just Ummah. Inshallah, may Allah reward the efforts
of all those who strive in his path. Amen. Join us every Sunday, inshallah,
from 2 to 3:00 p.m. right here on Radio Islam International from myself, Nabiha,
Zad, and Aisa. Enjoy your Sunday, and we wish you a wonderful week ahead.
Inshallah, [Music]
