Children and adults stand together in solidarity with Gaza

The Educators for Humanity organized a meaningful demonstration to stand in solidarity with the people of Gaza. By gathering on the corner of K43 & Klipspruit Valley Road in Lenasia on Friday 8 November 2024, they raised awareness of the ongoing violence and the humanitarian crisis. The protest served as a way for the group to express their concerns about the situation, calling for an end to the senseless killing and advocating for peace and justice in Gaza.

Standing on the corner, young children, teenagers, and adults expressed themselves using the chant that Educators for Humanity's Tasneem Kola had written:: “End the Seige, End the Pain. For every Child, for every Name! Don’t be Silent, Don’t be Weak, For Gaza’s future, We must Speak! End the Killing, End the Fear! Gaza’s Children we hold dear. Hey Israel what do you say How many kids did you bomb today? Israel you can’t hide your committing genocide . We don't want your bloody war, stop the killing stop the hate. What do we want? Cease fire! When do we want it? Now! There is only one solution! Intifada revolution! We want justice, you say how? End the siege on Gaza now! Gaza, Gaza, don’t you cry! Palestine will never die! In our millions, in our billions, we are all Palestinians! Stop the killing, stop the hate! Israel’s an apartheid state/terror state/racist state! The occupation? Shut it down! The border walls? Shut them down! The siege of Gaza? Shut it down! The whole damn system? Shut it down!Let kids be kids, let them be free! Let children dream, let children live! Lebanon/Palestine/Sudan/Congo/Yemen/Syria’s people need peace not war!’

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has tragically caused immense suffering for Palestinian civilians, particularly children, who bear the brunt of the violence. The blockade, military operations, and airstrikes have led to a humanitarian crisis, with countless innocent lives lost and many others displaced. People around the world, including South Africans, have been expressing solidarity with Palestinians, advocating for an end to the violence, human rights violations, and the suffering of civilians. The call for peace, justice, and accountability continues to grow, as many hope for a solution that ensures the safety, dignity, and rights of all people, regardless of their nationality or background.

The situation remains deeply complex and entrenched, with political, historical, and territorial issues at the heart of the conflict. Efforts for a lasting peace, and for an end to the violence, often face significant obstacles, but global awareness and support for the rights of civilians in Gaza continue to play an important role in urging leaders and international bodies to act in the pursuit of justice and peace.