Hundreds of South Africans gathered outside the Israeli Embassy in Pretoria on Saturday to protest against ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
Carrying Palestinian and Lebanese flags, protesters held placards with messages such as “Boycott apartheid Israel,” “Freedom for Palestine,” and “Your silence will be studied by your grandkids.” The demonstration called for an immediate ceasefire and an end to what protesters described as Israeli aggression in the Middle East.
Organized by activists including Massarah Rejeb, the protest drew around 300 participants, including trade union members, Palestinian and Lebanese South Africans, and solidarity groups. “We are here to demand a halt to the genocide in Palestine and Lebanon that threatens wider regional conflict,” said Mametlwe Sebei, leader of the General Industries Workers Union of South Africa.
The demonstrators urged the South African government to take decisive action, including shutting down the Israeli Embassy in Pretoria and halting all trade with Israel, particularly in coal. The calls align with South Africa’s recent filing of a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.
Israel’s military campaign, ongoing since last year’s Hamas attack, has killed over 43,600 people in Gaza, mostly women and children. The violence has also spilled into Lebanon, where Israeli strikes have intensified following a year of clashes with Hezbollah along the border.
Protesters expressed unwavering solidarity with Palestinians and the Lebanese resistance, vowing to amplify their efforts against what they described as “Zionist colonialism” in the region.
