More than 3,000 protesters marched through central Cape Town on Saturday, demanding that South Africa cut trade and diplomatic relations with Israel—including closing its embassy in Pretoria—over the war in Gaza.
The demonstration, among the largest in months, drew a broad coalition of pro-Palestinian groups, faith leaders from Muslim and Christian communities, and several political parties. Waving Palestinian flags and holding placards reading “Don’t just feel bad, do something,” the crowd proceeded to Parliament, where organizers handed over a petition outlining a raft of measures.
Key demands include expelling Israel’s ambassador and shutting the embassy; imposing a full boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) regime; suspending South African coal exports to Israel; and prosecuting any South Africans who enlist in the Israel Defense Forces. “South Africa must boycott, divest and sanction Israel, the same way as the world did for us,” said Palestine Solidarity Campaign coordinator Usuf Chikte, invoking international pressure that helped end apartheid.
Pretoria has been one of Israel’s most outspoken critics since the conflict escalated, filing a landmark case at the International Court of Justice in December 2023 alleging that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza constitutes genocide—a charge Israel rejects. The ICJ has issued provisional measures ordering Israel to prevent acts that could fall under the Genocide Convention and to improve humanitarian access, while the broader case proceeds.
Saturday’s march unfolded against the backdrop of mounting casualty figures. The war began after Hamas-led militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli data. Israel’s subsequent offensive in Gaza has killed at least 65,926 people, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry—figures the United Nations says it deems generally reliable for tracking the scale of harm, even if they cannot be independently verified in real time.
The petitioners also called for South Africa to press for Israel’s exclusion from international sporting bodies such as FIFA, echoing campaign tactics used against apartheid-era South Africa. Government officials did not immediately comment on the new demands, but authorities have previously said they support peaceful protest and remain committed to legal and diplomatic avenues to address the crisis.
