As Muslims around the world watch the violence unfolding at Masjidul Aqsa with shock and horror, a social media campaign called #handsoffAlAqsa has gained popularity on Twitter. Locally, the Cape Town Muslim community will march through the city’s streets on Wednesday to draw attention to the ongoing clashes between Palestinians and Zionist settlers. The Al Quds Foundation and the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC) will be staging this demonstration to create awareness of the oppression experienced by Palestinians. The organisations have expressed concern over the recent restrictions prohibiting people from entering Islam’s third holiest site.

“We decided to stage this demonstration after we witnessed the inhumane act prohibiting people of the area, time and space or to perform their salah,” says Al Quds Foundation coordinator Yunus Allie.

“We thought we would come out and ask our government and people to come out and do something to stop the Zionist atrocities.”

The organisation has urged the public to join the cause and support the march to assist in freeing Palestine.

“We call people particularly those in the Western Cape to participate in the march. We urge people to support. It’s not only for Muslims. People of all different faiths can join,” says Allie.

“It is the responsibility of all peace loving people of this earth to join and assist,” says Allie.

The march will take place Wednesday 5 November 2014 at 11:00am. The route to be taken starts from Keizergracht street opposite Cape Technikon. VOC