Hundreds of pro-Palestine activists filled the courtyard outside the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town on Tuesday, marking Nakba Day with chants, speeches, and signs condemning Israel’s war in Gaza. The demonstration took place at the Castle of Good Hope, a 17th-century structure built by the Dutch East India Company and the oldest remaining colonial building in South Africa. Protesters gathered under gray skies, holding banners that read ‘Stop the genocide in Gaza’ and ‘Free Palestine,’ as speakers condemned what they described as Israel’s ongoing military campaign in the besieged enclave. The Nakba, or ‘catastrophe,’ refers to the mass displacement of Palestinians during the creation of Israel in 1948, a event commemorated annually on May 15th. This year’s protest coincided with the six-month mark of the war in Gaza, which has killed over 34,000 Palestinians according to Gaza’s health ministry, many of them women and children. The event was organized by local Palestinian solidarity groups and South African anti-apartheid organizations, including the BDS South Africa movement, which has gained traction in the country since Israel’s latest military offensive began in October. Speakers at the protest included South African politicians and activists, who drew parallels between Israel’s actions in Gaza and the country’s own history of apartheid. ‘We stand here today to say enough is enough,’ said Zwelinzima Vavi, former general secretary of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, to a round of applause. ‘The world must act now to stop the slaughter of innocent Palestinians.’ The protest comes as South Africa pursues a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing it of genocide. South Africa’s government has been a vocal critic of Israel’s military campaign, recalling its ambassador in October and filing the case in December. The ICJ has ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts but has not yet ruled on the merits of South Africa’s case. Organizers of the Cape Town protest said the event was also a call for South Africa to take further diplomatic action, including cutting ties with Israel and imposing sanctions. ‘We’re not just here to mourn the dead,’ said Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, a member of parliament for the Economic Freedom Fighters, a left-wing opposition party. ‘We’re here to demand justice.’ The demonstration ended with a march toward the city’s central business district, where protesters blocked traffic briefly before dispersing peacefully. Police, who were present in large numbers, did not intervene or make any arrests. The protest reflects growing global outrage over the war in Gaza, with similar demonstrations held in cities across Europe, North America, and the Middle East this week. In South Africa, where the ruling African National Congress has long supported the Palestinian cause, the government’s stance has hardened in recent months. President Cyril Ramaphosa has repeatedly condemned Israel’s actions, and the country’s ruling party has called for Israel to be declared an apartheid state. The protest in Cape Town also served as a reminder of South Africa’s own colonial past, with many speakers linking the country’s history of oppression to the struggle of Palestinians today. ‘We know what it means to live under occupation,’ said Fahd Dawood, a South African of Palestinian descent and a member of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign. ‘We stand with Palestine because we know the cost of silence.’ As the sun set over the Castle of Good Hope, protesters lit candles and held a moment of silence for the victims of the war in Gaza. Organizers said the protest was just the beginning of a sustained campaign to pressure the South African government and the international community to act.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: Al Jazeera
  • Published: May 17, 2026 at 13:02 UTC
  • Category: War
  • Topics: #conflict · #war · #aljazeera · #palestine · #south-africa · #nakba

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Curated by GlobalBR News · May 17, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

Manifestantes pró-palestinos ocuparam o prédio colonial mais antigo da África do Sul para marcar o Dia da Nakba, em uma demonstração que uniu ativismo global e causas humanitárias, enquanto a guerra em Gaza segue devastando vidas e alimentando tensões internacionais. O protesto, realizado em frente ao Castelo da Boa Esperança, em Cidade do Cabo, não só reacendeu o debate sobre a ocupação israelense na Palestina, mas também trouxe à tona a crescente solidariedade sul-africana com o povo palestino, refletindo um movimento que transcende fronteiras.

A data, que marca a expulsão de mais de 700 mil palestinos durante a criação de Israel em 1948, ganha cada vez mais eco no Brasil e em outros países lusófonos, onde a discussão sobre direitos humanos e autodeterminação dos povos tem ganhado força. Para o Brasil, um país com histórica atuação diplomática em conflitos internacionais e uma comunidade árabe-palestina significativa, o tema ressoa não apenas como questão geopolítica, mas também como tema de justiça social. A mobilização em solo sul-africano reforça a importância de se discutir o papel das potências ocidentais no financiamento indireto da guerra e a urgência de um cessar-fogo duradouro.

A próxima etapa deve ser observada nos fóruns internacionais, onde a África do Sul já levou o caso contra Israel à Corte Internacional de Justiça — um movimento que pode influenciar outras nações a adotarem posturas mais firmes contra a ocupação.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

En el marco de la conmemoración de la Nakba, manifestantes pro palestinos escenificaron una protesta frente al edificio más antiguo de la era colonial sudafricana, un símbolo cargado de historia y controversia.

Este acto en Ciudad del Cabo, donde se exige el cese de la guerra israelí en Gaza, refleja la creciente movilización internacional en apoyo a Palestina, especialmente en África, donde la memoria histórica del colonialismo resuena con fuerza. La elección de este emblemático lugar no es casual: evoca el legado opresivo que muchos vinculan con la situación actual en Oriente Medio, subrayando la solidaridad con el pueblo palestino y la crítica a las políticas que, según los manifestantes, perpetúan su sufrimiento. Para los hispanohablantes, este evento sirve como recordatorio de la importancia de entender los conflictos desde múltiples perspectivas históricas y geopolíticas.