To support Palestinian rights, churches in Soweto band together

A group of Christians took their battle against the Israeli government to the streets of Soweto on Sunday, as calls for South Africa to adopt a more forceful stance against the human rights abuses in Palestine continue to grow.

Churches of all denominations came together under the banner of the "March for Palestine" to demand that justice and peace rule the holy land. The South African Council of Churches is calling on all South Africans to support the call for long-term peace in the region and humanitarian aid for Gaza.

Reverend Frank Chikane, an activist who led the march, urged the church community to support the over 67,000 Palestinians who have lost their lives in the nearly two-year conflict in the Gaza Strip.

"I do not remember churches marching for Palestine. This time, it is the churches that have come to show solidarity with the people of Palestine, saying we must march and show solidarity with the people there. We have said before that you can't treat other people like they were not human. You can't bomb churches, schools, and hospitals," Chikane stated.

The 3km march from the Grace Bible church in Soweto to the Regina Mundi Catholic Church in Rockville comes just days after the return of the six South African activists who were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla.

South African human rights activist Carrie Shelver, who is now based in Geneva, where she works in human rights advocacy and was among those detained, shared her story.

Shelver stated their brief torture at the hands of Israeli forces during their detention pales in comparison to the daily torture and human rights atrocities suffered by the Palestinians over the past two years.

"When we were intercepted and abducted, we could not see the coast but felt it and knew people of Palestine were counting on us. We were heartbroken that we could not reach Gaza. While we were denied human rights, medicine, and access to food, nothing comes close to what the people of Palestine are experiencing daily. Ours is to say even ordinary people can make a difference to the Gaza situation, "she said.

Umeya Teba, an activist, said everyone, including the church, has a moral duty to stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine, who continue to suffer at the hands of Israeli forces.

"No matter who you are, you have a duty to stand with the people of Palestine.  What people do not realise is that Gaza is the first front; if you do not take action now, this is coming back to confront all of us," she said. 

siyabonga.sithole@inl.co.za