Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-07-18

Thousands of pro-Palestine protesters gathered in solidarity against the Israeli regime outside the Israeli Embassy Trade Office in Sandton on Friday.

Protesters waved pro-Palestine flags and banners against Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip.

They carried banners with slogans such as “Hoot for freedom”, “Free Palestine – stop the genocide” and “I see humans but no humanity”, while shouting: “Hey, hey Israel, how many kids have you killed today?”.

Police blocked off a large section of West Street leading to Grayston Drive in Sandton, north of Johannesburg.

Various speakers took to the stage chanting struggle songs and addressing the crowd.

Anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada and South African Communist Party leader Thulas Nxesi joined the protest, which was aimed at putting pressure on the government to boycott Israeli products.

Nxesi said the country cannot ignore the plight of the Palestinians. “We remain unequivocal in our support for the Palestinian people and their struggle.”

He further stated that the SACP called on everyone to unite against the oppression of Palestine’s and called for urgent intervention from the UN

Protest organiser Muhammed Desai says they stand in solidarity with the Palestinians.

“We are here to send a very clear message to the Israeli government that the killings must end.”

In Cape Town on Wednesday, a pro-Palestine march organised by the Muslim Judicial Council handed over a memorandum to Siphosezwe Masango, chairman of Parliament’s international relations portfolio committee.

The protesters wanted to air their views about the Israeli military action.

Since Israel’s 10-day “Protective Edge” campaign more than 260 Palestinians have been killed and more than 2,000 wounded, news agency The Associated Press reported, quoting Palestinian health officials.

Meanwhile spokesperson Clayson Monyela said that South Africa was gravely concerned by Israel’s “illegal” ground invasion of the Gaza Strip.

The invasion had been rejected by the international community and would continue the “endless killing of innocent Palestinian civilians”, especially vulnerable groups such as the elderly, women and children, he said.

“The senseless invasion will also see the further destruction of civilian property and infrastructure,” said Monyela.

South Africa called on the Israeli Defence Force to immediately withdraw from the Gaza Strip and bring an end to their violent incursions into Palestinian territories.

(Twitter: @Faizie143)