Johnathan Paoli
Both the ANC as well as Numsa have declared their support and are participating in the Global Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on Wednesday in Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, Johannesburg.
The UN General Assembly had in 1977, called for the annual observance of 29 November as the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (resolution 32/40 B). On that day, in 1947, the Assembly adopted the resolution on the partition of Palestine (resolution 181 (II)).
The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) urged its members to participate in the event saying the working class from different unions, political parties and working class formations will be marching as a show of Solidarity with Palestine.
Numsa General Secretary Irvin Jim said the union has always had a long standing resolution on Palestine, rejected the Gaza Genocide and supported the demands for sanctions, boycotts and divestments against Apartheid Israel.
“The state of Israel has wreaked a reign of Terror on Palestinians for more than 70 years. They have stolen land, and jailed innocent women and children without trial. Israel has been bombing Gaza for weeks as a form of ethnic cleansing.
“They must be stopped! We demand a #CeasefireNow and for Palestinians to be able to rule themselves freely, as a sovereign nation, on their own land. Every inch of land which was stolen from them by Apartheid Israel must be returned,” Jim said.
Jim said that the people of Palestine needed their support now more than ever and called on their members who were able to participate, to attend the protest and that SAFTU has secured a section 77 certificate which meant that every worker could participate in this demonstration if he or she wishes to do so.
ANC SG Fikile Mbalula has expressed his ardent support for the event and said that all progressive forces should join in the protest for an immediate end to the genocide experienced by the Palestinian people in the Gaza region.
From rallies in Johannesburg and a sit-in in Beirut to protests near the Israeli embassy in Amman and a workplace walkout in London, these events will echo demands for the termination of all agreements signed with the Tel Aviv regime and for solidarity with Palestine.
Notably, Berlin will host a solidarity event while various protests are slated across the US.
Demonstrations from other nations like Norway, Brazil, Canada, and Belgium, highlighting international support for Palestinian rights and a call for action against ongoing Israeli atrocities and agreements, will take place.
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