Good Friday 2018 was turned into Bloody Friday when Israeli snipers killed 16 and injured 1 500 protestors, according to a BDS press statement released this weekend.
BDS South Africa, called on the government to immediately implement our ruling party’s congress declaration and resolution for the “immediate and unconditional downgrade of the SA embassy in Israel to a liaison office”.
“The time is now – the time for action, starting with the downgrade, is more urgent than ever! Israel must be held accountable for its abuses and a clear message must be sent to the regime!
“Human Rights Watch, Jewish Voices for Peace and the UN Secretary-General together with various others, have all condemned this Israel’s latest killing of Palestinian civilians and we call upon our government to take decisive action, said BDS spokesperson.
The #GreatReturnMarch is a six week protest taking place along the border of Gaza and Israel. Over 75% of the Palestinian people living in Gaza are refugees whose homes are in Israel. The UN has demanded that Israel allow the Palestinians refugees to return but Israel has refused.
“One of the first Palestinian to be killed yesterday was 26 year old Palestinian, AmroSamour. He was a farmer who dedicated his life to plant with his father, mother & siblings. He recently got married.
Another tragic story is that of Mohamed Abu Nmr (26), a sand sculpture artist, who just the day before had created a sculpture on Gaza’s Beach reading, “I will return”. One Palestinian was shot while). Another Palestinian youth was shot dead while running with a tyre.
To the Israel lobby who are suggesting that the Palestinians died in confrontations or clashes. This is a lie. Palestinians who were killed (they didn’t just all of a sudden die) gathered non-violently, unarmed (without any so called rockets) to protest against the fact that they are not allowed to return to their previous homes – a right guaranteed by international law.
“The Palestinians are gathering in the same way that our people gathered at Sharpeville in 1960, the Israelis are killing our Palestinian counterparts in the same way that the Apartheid SA government killed our people. The Sharpeville, Bisho, Uitenhage, Boipatong massacres in which our people were killed were also once termed “clashes” and “confrontations”!
The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reported that bullets, 148 by rubber bullets and others wounded 758 people from various injuries including smoke inhalation, bringing the total to 1,416 victims of Israeli military action.
People were wounded as protesters marched toward the fence that separates Meanwhile; tent towns have been built to host protestors who are expected to continue with marches until April 15.
On this day Palestinians mark the 70th anniversary of the “Nambe” (“Catastrophe”) when Israel claimed independence. More than 700,000 Palestinians were uprooted during the Arab-Israeli war, which dragged on for almost a year. Presently 1.3 million people living in Gaza are refugees, according to the United Nations.
BDS South Africa is urgently engaging with our partner organisations, the MJC, churches, unions and other groups to plan mass actions in solidarity with the Palestinian people in their #GreatReturnMarchsix week action as well as in protest against this most recent Israeli violence. Details to follow.”