Cape Town residents march in support of Palestinians
Thousands of Cape Town residents took to the streets of the central business district in support of Palestinians.
CAPE TOWN, May 11 (ANA) – Thousands of Cape Town residents marched in the central business district on Tuesday in support of Palestinians following an exchange of airstrikes with Israelis which killed several people this week.
The protesters waved the Palestinian flag and chanted “free Palestine” while also calling on the South African government to speak out against Israel over its role in the violence.
Citing the Palestinian health ministry, broadcaster Al Jazeera said at least 24 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli air raids on the Gaza Strip. Al Jazeera said this was after Islamist militant group Hamas launched rockets from the territory towards Israel.
The violence has triggered a global outcry, with videos of the carnage being shared across social media platforms.
These include footage of Israeli armed forces storming the Masjid al Aqsa mosque with rubber bullets, tear gas and sound bombs during prayers relating to the holy month of Ramadan for Muslims.
South Africa’s ruling African national Congress (ANC), the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters, the national Department of International Relations and Co-operation, the #Africa4Palestine movement, the Embassy of the State of Palestine in South Africa and Women of Waqf, among others, condemned the attacks.
After a meeting of the ANC, President Cyril Ramaphosa posted on his Twitter account that the ruling party was urging the international community “to stop Israel from expanding its illegal occupation of Palestinian lands and property”.
“We repeat our condemnation, in the strongest possible terms, of the unlawful evictions of Palestinians from their homes in Sheikh al Jarrah and the brutal attacks on Palestinian protestors at Al Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock,” Ramaphosa wrote.
Similar pro-Palestinian marches were taking place in other parts of South Africa.
– African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Stella Mapenzauswa
