PALESTINE VS ISRAEL: THE SOUTH AFRICAN FRONT

South Africa's Cape Town was witness to violent confrontations between Palestine and Israel supporters on 12 November. In what took stun grenades and water cannons to disperse, Palestine supporters reportedly interrupted a pro-Israel event, tore placards and occupied the venue. This occurred prior to a prayer meeting taking place, which pro-Israel organisers said would have attracted 3,000 participants. According to media reports, South African police arrested several people.

The incident happened after a pro-Palestine march took place in the city, where Nelson Mandela's grandson, Zwelivelile, spoke. Tens of thousands of demonstrators that day demanded the closure of the Israeli embassy over that country's air, sea and ground attack of the Gaza strip. The attacks have so far killed more than 11,000 Palestinians—including at least 4,000 children—since the 7 October escalation.

South Africa's government has taken a pro-Palestine stance, announcing 6 November it was pulling its ambassador out of Tel Aviv. Israel's ambassador to South Africa, Eliav Belotsercovsky, was summoned to the country's international relations department, where he was read the riot act over comments he reportedly had made in public. Like other major Global South powers, South Africa has pointed to Zionist Israel's more than 75 years of systematically oppressing Palestinians as the root cause of the violence.

The Jewish population in South Africa, the largest on the continent, is split, with some sympathetic to Israel and other more left-wing figures backing Palestine. A number of white South Africans also are active with Israel's military, participating in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

Let us know what you think of South Africa's support for Palestine.