From the news desk

Quds Day rally draws 5000

Share this article

An estimated 5000 pro-Palestinian protesters took to the streets of Cape Town at the International Al Quds Day March on Friday, braving the cold and wet weather to show their support for the people of Palestine. The crowd moved from Keizergracht Street in District Six and proceeded to Parliament where a memorandum was handed over. The memorandum called on government to take a solid stance against the Occupation of Palestine. It called for the expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador and also urged the protesters to boycott local stores which stock products manufactured in the occupied territories of Palestine.

While majority of the support seen at the protest were from the local Muslim community, the issue goes far beyond that of a singular religious belief, were the sentiments of some protesters. During the march, the Israeli flag was seen torched along with chants of condemnation. Muslim women donned the head scarf in the colours of the Palestinian flag, while little children stood at the front, calling on peace in a land which they say is the place where too many innocent children are dying.

“I saw on the news that children my own age are dying as bombs are hitting their homes. I am here today, with my parents because I think that those deaths should be stopped. No more children should die,” a young Ismail Cassiem told VOC News as he marched to Parliament.

20140725_155413

Aunty Rushda, whose voice had become hoarse as her chants grew loader and loader, said she will not rest or stop taking action until the South African government recognises Israel as a country guilty of committing war crimes and further end all relations.

“We cannot sit at home and live our lives while our brothers and sisters are being tormented day in and day out. Their daily lives have changed. Imagine living each day with the fear that it may be your last,” Aunty Rushda cried.

20140725_150301

Palestinian solidarity protests took place in nine other provinces all across the country, with Durban drawing a 50 000 strong crowd.

“The entire nation is standing behind the people in Gaza, why can’t our own government do the same? They talk a big game but we have yet to see the Ambassador Lenk leave the country. If his country is killing Palestine, they are killing South Africa,” a distraught Faried Gafieldien said.

Chants of hatred toward Zionism and Israel echoed through the streets of the Mother City. A build up of frustration could be sensed as the protesters marched.

20140725_145648

Ibtishaam Alexander said this march comes at a time when people have had enough and can take no more.

“We want to do more. I am here with all my friends and family. We have to do something to help the people of Palestine. If we don’t, we are then taking the side of the oppressors,” Alexander added.

On the 18th day of Operation Protective Edge on Friday, the Israeli military have killed over 800 Palestinians. VOC (Ra’eesah Isaacs)


Share this article

2 comments

  1. funny, VOC didnt interview the organisers as last week, nor was anything mentioned thats in the memo etc, or did they but no one responded?

    5000? the ARGUS said 10000, another foreign site said 20,000, R ISAACS, did you do the counting last week too?

  2. It is indeed sad to hear the strength with which some Muslims justify why they did not join the Quds Day march. The certainty with which sectarianism is justified is exceeded probably only by the Israeli spokespersons when they justify the killing of Palestinians.

    Most of the people who take these extreme Sunni viewpoints just do not know what they are talking about. Many of the leaders of this fitna have never read these justifications in the earliest accounts of our history. They learnt it from their own narrow-minded teachers and some of us just follow.

    Israel knows its enemies. In Quds Day, more than five million citizens of Israel, watched a live coverage and translation of Nasrallah. The Palestinians value the stand that Nasrallah takes yet we want to be more Palestinian than the Palestinians themselves.

    We must be pleased at the depth to which our nifaq has reached. May Allah protect us from ourselves.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

WhatsApp WhatsApp us
Wait a sec, saving restore vars.