On the scene, GroundUp reported a standoff between the police in riot gear and the protesters. The previous day had witnessed a peaceful demonstration in support of Palestine, where tens of thousands marched through Cape Town’s city centre demanding the closure of the Israeli embassy and condemnation of Israel by the Western Cape government.
On Sunday, however, only about a hundred pro-Palestinian protesters were present. A small group of pro-Israel supporters, mainly from Christian churches, decided to cancel their protest due to the clashes.
Reverend Barry Isaacs, one of the organizers of the Israel-supporting demonstration, stated that police presence was due to the city’s decision, not their request. Abeedah Adams, from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign (PSC), noted that unlike previous Palestine-supporting marches, this counter-protest wasn’t linked to any official organization but was a spontaneous response to the pro-Israeli protest.
Tensions escalated when a Palestinian supporter snatched an Israeli flag from an Israel supporter. The situation further deteriorated with shouting matches and minor clashes, prompting the police to use stun grenades to disperse the crowd.
Cape Town has witnessed several protests in the past month, following Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip, in response to Hamas’ armed incursion into Israel resulting in more than 1,400 deaths, mostly civilians, and over 200 hostages in Gaza. Israel’s retaliatory bombing of Gaza has led to over 11,000 deaths, including more than 4,000 children, and a heightened blockade, impeding humanitarian aid.
Isaacs expressed concern for the innocent Palestinian victims as much as the Jewish ones, calling for peace and a resolution. He urged politicians to find common ground, while acknowledging Israel’s right to self-defense.
Meanwhile, the Jewish Board of Deputies expressed outrage at alleged antisemitism by a speaker at Saturday’s march, who allegedly made threatening remarks about a Jewish school in Cape Town.
Cape Town’s Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, called for tolerance, praising the city’s commitment to free expression and peaceful protests. He condemned Sunday’s violent disruptions and urged residents to refrain from such behavior.