PRESS STATEMENT: 8 Members of Palestinian Diplomat to South Africa Killed in Israeli Attacks on Gaza

The human rigths and Palestine solidarity organization, BDS South Africa, sends its heartfelt condolences to Tamer Almassri a Palestinian diplomat based at the Embassy of Palestine in South Africa. Eight family members of Mr Massri were killed yesterday in Israeli attacks on Gaza. Tamer Almassri's dead relatives include Ibraheem Suliman Almassri, his wife, her brother and the couple’s 3 sons and 2 grandchildren. The couple had lost 2 sons in previous Israeli attacks on Gaza in 2006 and in 2012.

As South Africans we relate to comrade Tamer Almassri's pain and loss for many of us and our families also experienced tragedy while in exile. This news brings home the magnitude of human suffering that Palestinians are experiencing during the ongoing Israeli assault on the Palestinian Gaza Strip. Its also an urgent wake up call to South Africans and ourselves that every second that passes more people’s lives, are literally, at stake.

BDS South Africa will be holding a vigil at Union Buildings in Pretoria in the coming week to mourn with comrade Almassri and the entire Palestinian people, including the many women as South Africa enters Women’s Month.

Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, which began, early last month, have now claimed over 1500 Palestinians lives, including more than 250 children. According to the United Nations, over 75 percent of the Palestinians killed by Israel are civilians. We are abhorred that the Israeli government is still adamant on war and violence despite the efforts of the Palestinians, South African Government, the UN and the international community to stop these Israeli attacks on Gaza. The time for decisive diplomatic protest against these babaric Israeli attacks is more urgent now then ever.

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BDS South Africa will be joining South African civil society organizations including the MJC, ANC Youth League and others under the banner of the National Coalition for Palestine this coming Saturday, 09 August, at a Women's Day mass protest march in Cape Town demanding decisive action from the South African government. Demands include the withdrawal of the South African Ambassador from Israel; the expulsion of the Israeli Ambassador from South Africa; the holding of South Africans who have enlisted in the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) accountable to legal prosecution (in accordance with South African laws); and demanding that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) acts on the Gaza Docket currently lodged with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) which names several South Africans who have served in the previous Israeli massacre in Gaza in 2009. Click here for more information on the upcoming Women's Day #SAMarch4Gaza protest in Cape Town.

ISSUED BY MUHAMMED DESAI ON BEHALF OF BDS SOUTH AFRICA

BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT AND SANCTIONS AGAINST ISRAEL in SOUTH AFRICA (BDS SOUTH AFRICA)
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