Friday will see the start  of over 20 nationwide Palestine protests against Israeli attacks on Gaza.  Various civil society organizations, political groups, human rights organizations, trade unions and other South African organizations will be hosting over 20 major protest actions, rallies and events within the next seven days, in all nine provinces including in all major cities and towns.

These civil society-led protest actions are calling on our South African Government to immediately expel the Israeli Ambassador from South Africa, recall South Africa’s Ambassador from Tel Aviv as well as impose broad-based boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel. On Thursday, BRICS member, Brazil, joined Ecuador in recalling its Ambassador from Israel.

Kwara Kekana of BDS South Africa said the demands are made with the intention of sending a clear message to Israel that its current and on-going attacks in the Palestinian Gaza Strip – which have resulted in the killing of over 700 including 150 children in 2 weeks – are unacceptable and must cease immediately.

“We join the ANC in welcoming our South African Government’s recent announcement of contributing over 10 million Rands to the Palestinian people during this time of crises. We are reminded of how peoples of the world, many African nations, South American countries and the Palestinian people themselves contributed towards our struggle against apartheid – financially, militarily and politically. This is us paying back,” she said.

“However, Palestinians need and are demanding more than charity, they want our active solidarity and specifically our participation in the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) campaign.”

Below are the upcoming protests:

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CAPE TOWN
FRIDAY, 25 JULY STARTING AT 13H30
Action: Protest March
Address: Starting from District 6 to Parliament
Time: Starting 13h30
Contact: 0786101786
Hosts: IUC amongst others

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CAPE TOWN
FRIDAY, 25 JULY AT 13H00
Action: Silent vigil
Address: 40 Main Road, Claremont
Host: Claremont Main Road Mosque

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DURBAN
FRIDAY, 25 JULY STARTING 13H30
Action: Protest March
Address: From Corner Dennis Hurley and Yusuf Dadoo Street to Durban City Hall (Church Street)
Speakers: Spoken word artist Iain Ewok Robinson, ANC Youth League NTT Member, Bram Hanekom, National Coordinator of BDS South Africa, Muhammed Desai, Desmond D’sa, Mayor James Nxumalo, Professor Jerry Coovadia
Contact: 0713512094
Host: KZN Palestine Solidarity Forum

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BRIXTON
FRIDAY, 25 JULY AT 13H00
Action: Mini Rally
Address: Brixton

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NELSPRUIT
FRIDAY, 25 JULY STARTING AT 13h30
Action: Protest March
Address: Old River Bridge Waterfall Avenue Riverside Industrial to Mpumalanga Legislature
Contact: 0827862906

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NEWCASTLE
FRIDAY, 25 JULY
Action: Protest rally
Address: Corner Murchison and Sutherland Street to the Town Hall
Time: 13h00
Contact: 0714565104

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POLOKWANE
FRIDAY, 25 JULY STARTING 13H30
Action: Protest March
Address: March will start from Jack Botes Hall (Corner Thabo Mbeki and Church Street to Premiers office)
Contact: 0823035252
Hosts: ANC, SACP, YCL and others

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PORT ELIZABETH
FRIDAY, 25 JULY AT 10H00
Action: Picket
Address: Conyngham Street, Parsons Hill
Contact: 0826121657
Hosts: PSA PE among others

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PRETORIA
FRIDAY, 25 JULY STARTING 13H30
Action: Protest March To Israeli Embassy
Address: Israeli Embassy, 428 Kings Highway, Pretoria
Contact: 0797164700 / 0608138463
Info: www.facebook.com/events/ 1474151242824428/
Hosts: Youth Unity Movement

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RUSTENBURG
FRIDAY, 25 JULY STARTING AT 13H30
Action: Protest March
Address: Meeting point at Augrabies Road opposite KFC
Contact: 0838708928
HOSTS: Rustenburg PSF

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HAZEYVIEW
SATURDAY, 26 JULY
Action: Rally
Address: Mahushu Mthimba FET College, Hazeyview
Contact: 0823515804
Hosts: SACP

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KIMBERLY
FRIDAY, 25 JULY AT 14H00
Action: Picket and protest at Northern Cape Premier’s office
Address: JW Sauer Building, Corner Roper and Quinn Streets
Time: 14:00
Contact: 0724163790
Hosts: COSATU

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KATLEHONG
FRIDAY, 25 JULY
Action: Mini Rally and March
Time: 16h00

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JOHANNESBURG
SATURDAY, 26 JULY AT 11H00
Action: Mass meeting
Address: Sophiatown
Time: 11h00
Hosts: ANC Youth League

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LADYSMITH
SATURDAY,26 JULY AT 10H00
Action: Protest March
Address: From Murchison Street to Ladysmith Town Hall
Time: 10h00
Contact: 0837992786

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LAUDIUM
SATURDAY, 26 JULY AT 10H00
Action: Fundaraiser
Address: Starting at Rosina Sedibane College Grounds
Time: 10h00
Contact: 0762785403

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MAYFAIR
SATURDAY, 26 JULY AT 13H30
Action: Motorcade and protest
Address: From Crosby Grounds and ending at Jubileum Park
Time: Starting 13h30
Contact: 079 269 1556

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GABARONE (BOTSWANA)
THURSDAY, 31 JULY
Action: Panel Discussion
Contact: +2672256959

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JOHANNESBURG

FRIDAY,1 AUGUST
City: Johannesburg
Action: Palestine Workshop
Address: 100 Jorrisen Street Braamfontein
Host: COSATU

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MANDENI
SATURDAY, 2 AUGUST STARTING AT 11HOO
Action: Mass Meeting

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