Cape Town - Determined in the scorching heat, thousands of people from all walks of life took part in a solidarity pilgrimage on Human Rights Day, calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, Palestine.
The pilgrimage commenced at the Simon’s Town Train Station at 7am with multifaith prayer and reflection stops at Fish Hoek, Muizenberg, Retreat, Plumstead, Claremont, Mowbray, Woodstock, and the final stop and solidarity event at the Groote Kerk, in Adderley Street.
Those attending could do the full 41km pilgrimage, the length of the besieged Gaza Strip, or join at any of the stops along the route.
The Cape Town Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage (GCP) formed part of a global movement to “walk in prayerful solidarity” during Lent.
The global solidarity movement calls for an enduring and sustained ceasefire; immediate flow of humanitarian aid and assistance; release of all hostages - Israeli hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian hostages in Israeli prisons; and an end to the occupation of Palestine.
Pilgrimages have been organised in around 160 cities in 20 countries on all continents.
While the Cape Town leg of the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage was organised by individuals from various churches and Christian organisations, the pilgrimage saw support from different faith institutions, human rights and solidarity organisations.
Families and friends joined with infants and toddlers or canine companions in tow- wearing keffiyeh, watermelon symbols, and waving the Palestinian flag throughout the journey.
Support for the group was shown by hooting cars and waving cyclists. They were also spurred on by encouraging remarks and well wishes by passersby met along the route.
Lakeside resident Maurietta Stewart said: “I think I’ve lost my words for the crisis and the genocide. I don't have any more words to describe how awful it is and the injustice and the evil of it. This is kind of an embodied way of praying for me.
“One feels powerless and being present in my body and walking seems to be a way of praying and meditating and having solidarity with others with the same mind and heart, with the hope that the genocide will end soon.”
Over 30 000 Palestinians have been killed and a further 70 000 injured as a result of attacks by the Israeli Defence Forces since October 7.
The complete siege on Gaza and forced displacement, often multiple times, has resulted in an extreme scarcity of food.
The World Health Organisation has warned of an imminent famine in northern Gaza, with the rest of Gaza Strip also at risk. Several deaths due to starvation have already been reported.
In Plumstead, prayers were led by the SA Jews for a Free Palestine.
At Claremont Main Road Mosque, a flag and poster demonstration was held outside while waiting for the group. The mosque also opened its doors to serve as a refreshment stop.
Palestinian-Canadian citizen journalist and humanitarian worker Mansour Shouman, who is currently visiting for a number of programmes, was present at the mosque.
“In Sha Allah, despite not being there physically, we’re just getting started and with your support, people in South Africa, people around the world, we can continue to ensure that this genocide ends as soon as possible, a ceasefire happens, aid reaches everywhere and we free Palestine, including the West Bank as well.”
Elsbeth Engelbrecht, director of the LGBTQIA+ human rights organisation Triangle Project said her participation was to express solidarity with the queers of Palestine too, who are often not acknowledged and spoken about.
“We know that this war is unjust in particular. We are concerned about the food security questions and that people are starved. We also want to make a link, for me, as we’re walking here. I can't stop thinking of people even in our context starving and how food globally, is used as a tool of war and what the Israelis are doing, while we turn our face towards them is to also know that a child in Khayelitsha, a child in Delft, is not eating because of state sanctioned violence, high cost of food. But I'm also here for the queers of Palestine.”