The streets of Sea Point were filled with Palestinian flags, chants and messages of solidarity on Saturday, as thousands of Capetonians joined a Mass March for Palestine.
Demonstrators gathered at the Sea Point Lighthouse before making their way towards Mouille Point, marking more than 1,000 days of the ongoing war in Gaza and what organisers described as genocide, injustice and impunity against Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied territories.
Despite the strong Cape Town winds, Palestinian flags were raised high above the crowd as people from across the city came together to call for an end to the occupation and for greater accountability over the continued suffering of Palestinians.
The march brought together activists, community members and families, with demonstrators carrying placards and banners calling for Palestinian freedom and an end to the violence in Gaza.
International activist and former British MP George Galloway joined the gathering, alongside British journalist and activist Yvonne Ridley.
Ridley addressed the crowds during the march, speaking about the Palestinian struggle and the importance of maintaining international pressure and solidarity.
A strong message from speakers at the demonstration was directed at Zionism, with participants describing it as being rooted in theft, occupation and oppression.
For those taking part, the march was about more than the events unfolding in Gaza. Demonstrators also highlighted the broader Palestinian struggle, including the impact of decades of occupation and displacement in the occupied territories.
The Habibia Siddique Muslim Pipe Band accompanied the march, adding a distinctly Cape Town character to the demonstration as protesters moved along the Sea Point promenade.
The procession concluded at Mandela’s Glasses in Mouille Point, where demonstrators gathered to hear further speeches and messages of solidarity.
The large turnout reflects the continued mobilisation of pro-Palestinian communities and activists in Cape Town, who have repeatedly taken to the streets to call for an end to the violence and to demand justice for Palestinians.
For the demonstrators gathered in Sea Point, the message remained clear: solidarity with Palestine must continue, and the suffering of Palestinians cannot be ignored.
