MBOMBELA – In the past three weeks Israel has killed over 600 Palestinians including more than 120 children, several babies under the age of two, a journalist and a paramedic on the Gaza strip. Residents of the city protested against the current war in Gaza on Friday afternoon.
The peaceful demonstration was organised by the local branch of the Palestine Solidarity Alliance.
Protesters marched to legislature to submit a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to the Office of the Premier, Mr David Mabuza, demanding the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador from South Africa and the recalling of the South African ambassador to Israel.
The protest was well supported and no anti-Jewish or anti-Semitic banners were used. Cosatu, ANC, Boycott, Divesment and Sanctions and Nehawu also supported the march. After reading the demands, the provincial legislature speaker, Ms Thandi Shongwe signed on behalf of Mabuza.
“We are very happy with the outcome and all the support that we received. We want to send the message that what Israel is doing is wrong,” said Mr Yasheem Mohamed, one of the organisers.
The Gaza strip is the world’s largest open-air prison with over 1,8 million Palestinians caged in and cut off by Israel from the rest of the world. People in Gaza have been facing a ground offensive from Israel for the past three weeks after a series of missile attacks.
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