The Ladysmith Women’s Forum recently embarked on an initiative to pledge their support to Palestine through fund-raising and awareness. An event was held at The Square Shopping Centre, Mica in Alexandra Street and Oasis Service Station on May 22.

This comes as a result of the tension that escalated across Palestinian territories last month over an Israeli court verdict to forcibly expel Palestinian families from their homes in the Sheik Jarrah neighbourhood in occupied East Jerusalem in favour of settler groups.

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The situation worsened when Israel launched air attacks in the Gaza Strip and killed at least 248 Palestinians, including 66 children and 39 women, and injured 1900 others.

The Women’s Forum members said they cannot tolerate what is happening in the Palestinian community and that they want to raise awareness among everyone in South Africa, more especially those who suffered under the harsh laws of apartheid. ”As mothers, daughters and sisters, we are enraged to see that the Palestinians are seen as animals, humiliated by deliberately degrading procedures, and this must stop! Enough is enough,” said Shireen Vorajee of the forum.

Vorajee says they received overwhelming support from the community at the event and managed to raise funds that will be donated to healthcare, food and shelter for the shattered and broken Palestinians.

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