SA opposition to Israel could turn ‘violent’ Jacob Zuma
Jacob Zuma

Jacob Zuma

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s solidarity with the besieged people of Palestine might turn violent with locals declaring protests against the ongoing attacks Israel is carrying out.Several people interviewed by CAJ News Africa across the country yesterday said the bombardment of Palestinians by Israel called for “violent” protests to prompt the international community to call Israel to order.

Sizwe Khumalo of Alexandra, outside Johannesburg, said he had run out of patience with global leaders amid the continuing loss of life in the Gaza strip.

More than 580 civilians have been killed to date. “We are fed up with these double standards of the Western world! Children, women and elderly men are being killed daily while superpowers such as the US, Britain, Germany, France and Japan are watching.

“Surely, what kind of world do we have today? How on earth can a heavily armed military bomb unprotected and  innocent women and children? This is evil! This is satanic,” Khumalo said.

Lerato Moalusi from North West said staging protests at both Israeli and US embassies in Pretoria would send “a clear message” Israel’s actions were intolerable.

“As South Africans, we protested in both peaceful and violent means, so why not do the same at the two embassies in order to send a strong message to our government, which is unwilling to expel the Israeli ambassador here,” said Moalusi.

Portia Mahlobo of Cape Town, urged the South African government to expel Israel’s ambassador lest he be expelled through “mob justice.”

“I don’t see the reason why our government is maintaining relations with Israel when it continues to violate international law, rules and regulations. If our government is unwilling to expel the Israeli ambassador, then we shall do it ourselves, the people who voted the ANC government,” Mahlobo said.

The Young Communist League of SA (YCLSA) said it was “disgusted” by Israel’s continuous bombardment of Palestine at will while the entire world was “watching.”

YCLSA spokesperson, Khaya Xaba, said plans by some Jewish-Israelis to hold a rally in South Africa were “provocative.”

“The Young Communist League (uFasimba) is horrified at the South African Zionist rally planned for next week Sunday in solidarity with the murderous Israeli Defence Force (IDF). The planned rally evokes images of Nazi Germany and its many supporters who gathered to cheer on Hitler and the army as they wrought death and destruction throughout Europe.”

Israeli aircraft and tanks have hit more than 70 targets in the Gaza strip, including five mosques, a football stadium and the home of the late leader of Hamas’ military wing, according to Palestinian police.

At least seven Palestinians were reported killed in the new round of air strikes early yesterday, bringing the death toll of Israel’s two-week assault on the Gaza Strip to more than 580.

Police spokesperson Ayman Batniji said tank shells damaged several houses along the eastern border of the territory and that at least 19 fishing boats were destroyed by navy shells fired from the Mediterranean.

Al Jazeera’s Stefanie Dekker, reporting from Gaza City, said artillery shelling continued yesterday morning, especially near the eastern border areas. “Israeli tanks are stationed about 700 to 800 metres away from the borders and are expected to continue to come closer,” she said.

The intense Israeli bombardment came as UN chief Ban Ki-Moon and US Secretary of State John Kerry met in Cairo to launch the highest-level push yet to end the two weeks of violence.

The death toll in Israel’s 14-day offensive climbed to more than 583 Palestinians, including dozens of women and children. More than 3,600 others have been injured.

The Israeli military yesterday said two soldiers were killed the day before by rockets fired from Gaza, bringing the Israeli toll to 27 troops and two civilians in the bloodiest Gaza conflict since 2009.

Kerry said he was hoping to get international support in Washington’s push for a ceasefire, while acknowledging that the differences between Israel and Hamas run deep and must be addressed in any long-term solution. “We will work to see if there is some way to not only arrive at a ceasefire of some kind but to get to a discussion about the underlying issues,” Kerry said at the start of the meeting with the UN chief.

Kerry pledged $47 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Washington reiterated that Israel had the right to defend itself against a barrage of more than 1,500 rockets launched by Hamas, while voicing concern about civilian casualties.

US President Obama said Israel’s military assault of Gaza had already done “significant damage” to Hamas’ network of tunnels, safe havens and other infrastructure as he talked of the need for a ceasefire. — AFP

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