Thousands of pro-Palestine supporters marched in the Cape Town CBD to show support for the people of Palestine.

A broad coalition of civil society, interfaith organisations, justice movements and political parties organised the march.

The demonstrators are calling for an end to the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

The President of the Muslim Judicial Council, Sheikh Riad Fataar says Cape Town stands in solidarity with Gaza and Palestine today.

“From Cape Town, South Africa, at the bottom of Africa, we are today showing our solidarity with the people of Gaza and Palestine. We thank the South African government. We thank all the structures in South Africa that have shown their humanity. This is not a Muslim thing. This is something for the world and we see the world has come out to support Gaza and Palestine.”

South African Dutch Reformed Church cleric, politician and anti-apartheid activist Dr Allan Boesak says, “I think that what we are doing here in our thousands today is absolutely important. We march because we cannot look away, we march because where there is pain, we show up. Where there is suffering, we show up. We march because we care, we march because we want to keep our humanity intact.”

The demonstrators handed over a memorandum with their demands to a representative from parliament.

Coordinator of Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Usuf Chikte emphasises that an Apartheid Bill must be enforced.

“We want parliament to enforce a bill, the apartheid bill, which will domesticate our international obligations in terms of the apartheid convention to make apartheid a crime anywhere at any time, including in Israel. That is the way that we are going to boycott, divest and sanction Israel the same way as the world did it for us in South Africa.”

The group has given parliament 14 days to respond to their memorandum.

The House Chairperson of the National Assembly, Cedric Frolick, says he will make sure that the memorandum is delivered to the Speakers.

“I undertake to get this memorandum to the desk of the speaker to ensure that it is processed and responded to within 14 days. As Parliament, we subscribe to international law and we reject the selective application of international law.”

The marchers say they will continue to protest until Palestine is free.