SOUTH AFRICAN LEBANESE COMMUNITY TO PICKET ISRAEL’S EM-BASSY IN PRETORIA

”The soil of Lebanon is my mother, it is my father because it is sacred to me and to every Lebanese person living there or in the Diaspora. Lebanese blood is spread all over the world and some people don’t even realise they have it. We are all connected to its soil, and it therefore must be protected. And we are calling on people to march for human lives and for freedom next month.”

Massarah Rejeb, is a member of the sizable and historic Lebanese Community in South Africa. She spoke to INX Prime on what it means to be Lebanese while witnessing Israel’s 6th attempt at invading the country. "We are a resilient people and invasions to us is nothing new; Lebanon has been raided before by the Turks, the Romans before them. We will prevail as we always have in the past." The Lebanese community in South Africa is planning a picket at the Israeli embassy in Pretoria on November 9 from 12 pm.

The demonstration has been called to demand an immediate end to Israel’s genocide in Gaza that has killed 41,467 people, 16,500 of them children and after more than 2,000 Lebanese people have been killed since Israel ramped up its assault on its northern neighbour on September 23. The event will feature prominent speakers from Palestine, Lebanon and South Africa who will share their experiences and their perspective of Israel’s aggression in the region.

Organisers say the public protest will highlight the inhumane massacres happening in the Middle East including Lebanon, Israel’s breach of the ICJ’s Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide of the Gaza Strip, as well as violations of basic principles of humanity. Attire on the day is white or black clothing and protesters have been encouraged to bring Lebanese and or Palestinian flags, Palestinian Keffiyehs, printed or handmade posters, and vuvuzelas.

Members of the public have been encouraged to reach out to the organisers for any queries regarding support and transport, etc on the email: protest9novemberpretoria@finmail.com