Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in large numbers at the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town to mark Nakba Day, commemorating the displacement of Palestinians during the creation of Israel in 1948. The rally comes amid intensified conflict in Gaza, where Israel faces accusations of severe human rights violations.
The Palestine Solidarity Campaign praised South Africa for referring Israel to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over alleged genocide but called for stronger measures, including boycotts and sanctions.
“The government has done well by taking Israel to the ICJ, but more must be done,” a spokesperson said. “For years, we’ve demanded boycotts and sanctions against Israel.”
The movement includes South African Jews for a Free Palestine, who condemned the violence. “We call for an end to the genocide and the Zionist entity, which is acting worse than the Nazis did,” one member stated. “Our motto is ‘Never again for anybody.’”
Local artists displayed pro-Palestinian artwork, with one piece depicting war-torn Gaza. “As a parent, seeing these horrific images keeps me awake at night,” the artist shared. “I wanted to bring the statistics to life in a public space.”
Cape Town has been a vocal supporter of Palestine, with attendees emphasizing unity. “We’re here to stand together for something silenced globally, especially by powerful nations,” a protester said.
The rally echoed a global call for solidarity with Palestinians as the conflict continues.
