South Africans in Johannesburg gathered in a powerful display of solidarity with the people of Palestine amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. This demonstration drew a diverse crowd, with many attendees expressing their support for Palestinians who have endured decades of oppression.
Pamela Ngubane, one of the protesters, spoke of her personal journey to understanding the situation, noting that she felt deceived and realized her religion had been manipulated to undermine the rights of Palestinians.
Outside the United States consulate, demonstrators voiced their disapproval of Washington's decision to supply weapons to Israel and called for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador to South Africa. In Cape Town, a similar protest took place, with people demanding an end to the violence.
These demonstrations were organized by the pro-Palestine group BDS (Boycott, Disinvest, Sanctions), which advocates for boycotting Israeli products, disinvestment, and sanctions against Israel. In contrast, the Jewish community in South Africa also announced plans to hold prayer sessions and solidarity events in support of Israel.
The South African government joined the call for an immediate cessation of violence between Israel and Palestine on Sunday.