South Africans have joined in the global outcry against attacks by Israel on Palestinians, with thousands of locals on Wednesday demanding the closure of the country’s diplomatic mission in Tel Aviv.
Thousands marched in Cape Town’s central business district on Wednesday denouncing the recent attacks by Israeli forces on Palestinian worshippers, air strikes on the Gaza Strip and forced evictions of Palestinians from East Jerusalem.
“What we call for is the closure of the (South African) embassy in Tel Aviv,” said one of the protest leaders, Mandla Mandela who is a grandson of the late anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.
This was the second day in a row that South Africans marched in Cape Town in solidarity with Palestinians.
Mandela said there are plans to hold more protests in July to coincide with the Nelson Mandela International Day that is commemorated on July 18.
The July protests are planned for South Africa’s administrative capital Pretoria where crowds are expected to demand the closure of the Israeli embassy in the country.
JN/APA