Massive protest in Cape Town in support of people of Gaza
This was part of a Global Day of Action for Palestine
A large crowd gathered at the Sea Point Promenade on Saturday afternoon in support of the people of Gaza. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks
A large crowd gathered on a hot and windy day at the Sea Point Promenade in Cape Town for a Global Day of Action for Palestine rally, calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. According to Al Jazeera tens of thousands of people took part in similar protests across the world.
The speakers included Gift of the Givers founder Imtiaz Sooliman, Equal Education general secretary Noncedo Madubedube, and anti-apartheid leader Allan Boesak.
Roses were laid out on the railings of the promenade in memory of people killed in Gaza. This one says: “For Rahaf Raafat Abdel Kram Al-Astal 11. The sight of dust, debris and chaos that destroyed your toys and our memories have been replaced with flowers and beauty. Play well, little ones.” Photo: Ashraf Hendricks
The rally, which was organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), started with a traditional ceremony from Save Our Sacred Lands member Tauriq Jenkins and a prayer by Rodney Whiteman.
Several roses were laid across the Promenade to commemorate the lives lost in Gaza. Watermelons, which have become a symbol of Palestinian resistance, were also handed out. People were seen holding banners that read “Zionism is Racism” and “Boycott Apartheid Israel”. Many people flew Palestinian flags.
Watermelon has become a symbol of resistance for Palestinians. Here a woman wears watermelon earrings. Watermelon was also handed out at the event. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks
The Global Solidarity Day followed two days of public hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, in which South Africa asked the court to make a prima facie (on the face of it) finding that Israel may be committing genocide. Israel disputed the charges and claimed South Africa was siding with Hamas.
A statement read out by the organisers said: “We are here today to be part of the global day of action that will see demonstrations planned in more than 66 cities and at least 36 countries. Today’s rally will be part of a united front of global voices, calling unconditionally for an immediate and permanent ceasefire.”
Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, was one of the speakers at the event. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks
Sooliman told the crowd that Gift of the Givers had teams in Gaza and the West Bank. It also had an aid team stationed at the Egyptian border, ready to go into Gaza as soon as there was a ceasefire.
“People like us and people all over the world will make sure that the ceasefire comes. The power of the people is more powerful than any government and any weapon in the world,” he told the crowd.
Referring to the court case at the ICJ, he said: “I feel great to be South African. When we sent our people to the ICJ we brought back the Mandela magic.”
Koni Benson of South African Jews for a Free Palestine addresses the crowd. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks
Dr Koni Benson, a historian and member of South African Jews for a Free Palestine (SAJFP), said the group rejected Zionism. “We are here today to stand in solidarity with Palestine against the brutality of Israel backed by the US and backed by Zionists worldwide. We are living in the wake of the unresolved and ongoing history of imperialism.”
“SAJFP rejects the way that Jewish trauma has been weaponised to justify the occupation and oppression of Palestine. This framework where victimhood justifies all subsequent behaviour goes against the core ethics of Judaism,” she added.
There was also a protest in Johannesburg outside the United States consulate.
Hundreds of protesters gathered outside the US consulate in Johannesburg to protest against the ongoing bombing of Gaza. Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of US foreign aid. Picture: Ihsaan Haffejee
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