‘Another Nakba will not happen under our watch’ – demonstrators

Thousands of protesters gathered at the Castle of Good Hope for the remembrance of Nakba Day on Sunday, which marked 77 years of Palestinians' dispossession.

They joined tens of thousands who rallied across the world in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s war on Gaza and to mark the 1948 attack on Palestinians, remembered as the Nakba, or catastrophe.

The Nakba resulted in the permanent mass displacement of Palestinians after the creation of Israel in 1948. 

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) said as Israel’s brutal assault on Gaza and the West Bank intensifies - targeting civilians, journalists, medics and aid workers - the world cannot remain silent.

The PSC demanded a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. It also called for an end to all arms sales to Israel and justice and freedom for Palestinians.

“We are gathering at the Castle of Good Hope - a fortress of colonial violence - to stand against the violence of apartheid in Palestine. Our message is clear: apartheid must end, whether in South Africa’s history or Palestine’s present,” read a message from the organisers.

One of the speakers, Jaamia Galant said the rally was a sign that there should be no more silence over the ongoing fight against Palestine.

“Today we gathered to commemorate the 77 years of Nakba. This is after the displacement of over 700 000 Palestinians from their homes and villages in 1948. This was the beginning of Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people.

"For the past 17 months... we have been witnessing the second Nakba in Gaza,” she said. 

“More than 50 000, and of them 80% are of women and children, have been massacred with intent, and hundreds of thousands have been left homeless, and are now driven to starvation by Israel’s siege of Gaza. This is with the unconditional support of the US and the Western imperial powers to realise a second Nakba,” she said. 

"We stand here and join all the people in saying we will not allow another Nakba on our watch. Apartheid is a violation of internationally protected human rights. We have told Israel to account,” she said.

The government has reiterated its call for an immediate ceasefire and for the resumption of a political process to end the occupation in Gaza by Israel.

In a statement, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) said this comes after the killing of 143 Gazans by the Israel Defence Force on May 15, 2025, as Palestinians commemorated the 77th anniversary of Nakba Day.

“The international community must act decisively to hold Israel accountable for violations of international law, pertinently international humanitarian, and human rights law. 

“This includes the implementation of effective measures to bring an end to the occupation, the ongoing policies and practices of collective punishment, and the illegal blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip,” Dirco said.

Furthermore, Dirco said there must be an immediate halt to the practices of arbitrary and administrative detention, as well as to acts of torture and ill-treatment of Palestinian detainees, particularly children. 

“These actions are in clear violation of international humanitarian law, including the Fourth Geneva Convention, and international human rights norms/standards as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

"It is imperative that all Palestinian detainees held without due process be released, and that all victims – especially children – be provided with adequate compensation and rehabilitation, in accordance with international law and justice.

“The credibility of the international order depends on the consistent application of international law and accountability for all violations, regardless of the perpetrator,” Dirco said.

Cape Times