This article provides a comparative analysis of the role and effectiveness of economic resistance in two significant contemporary movements: the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa and the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement in Palestine against Israel in the Context of Islamic Awakening. The research aims to examine the extent to which the successful experience of sanctions against the apartheid regime can be utilized to design effective strategies in the struggle against occupation and discrimination in Palestine. Using the theoretical framework of critical political economy and a comparative case study method, the article critiques the common analogical approach and analyzes the structural, political, and social similarities and differences between the two. The findings indicate that the success of sanctions in South Africa depended on an organic connection with a broad popular movement and a strategy to change the internal power structure, whereas in Palestine, despite mobilizing capacities of Islamic Awakening to strengthen transnational solidarity, geographic dispersion, lack of unified leadership, and Israel’s strong dependence on Western support have posed serious challenges to the effectiveness of sanctions. The article also emphasizes that using historical experiences must be done with caution and awareness of the specific conditions of each case, and designing effective strategies for BDS requires critical revision and adaptation to the realities of Palestine and Israel. This approach can enhance the effectiveness of sanctions and help achieve the movement’s goals.