SA Jews For A Free Palestine gives Parliament’s vote to suspend ties with Israel the thumbs up

South African Jews for a Free Palestine have welcomed Parliament’s calls for the shutdown of the Israeli embassy.

On Tuesday, more than two-thirds of South Africa’s lawmakers voted in favour of suspending diplomatic ties with the country.

There’s been a significant deterioration in Israel’s bilateral relationship with South Africa, whose President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has called Israel’s actions in Gaza a “genocide.”

With more than 14 000 people killed so far, waring parties have agreed to a four-day truce for the release of hostages and the distribution of much-needed humanitarian aid.

Several civil society groups, including the South African Women In Dialogue (SAWID), demonstrated outside the Israeli Embassy today, calling for an immediate end to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

YNews spoke with Rina King from the SA Jews for a Free Palestine at demonstrations.

She says the decision to shutdown the Israeli embassy is long overdue.

Young people, who attended the protest, say a four-day ceasefire is not enough time for meaningful relief to be delivered to the people of Gaza nor for civilians to make their way to safety.

The SA Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) has on the other hand accused the South African government of acting as a mouthpiece for Hamas, which the board says is a terrorist organisation.

The SAJBD say government’s actions are fuelling the fires of antisemitism across the globe. Article by Naomi Kobbie