Muslims hold peaceful protest against Israeli produce in store

ABOUT 80 pro-Palestinian supporters held a peaceful demonstration outside Woolworths at the Greenacres shopping centre in Port Elizabeth on Saturday against the retail store's refusal to stop stocking Israeli goods.

According to the latest reports, more than 2100 Palestinians, including close to 500 children, have been killed since the Israeli government's attacks on Gaza started on July 8.

Israel has lost 64 soldiers and four civilians. It is estimated more than 17000 homes have been destroyed or damaged with thousands of people now homeless or displaced.

Saturday's protest was organised by Freedom For Palestine, a Nelson Mandela Bay organisation which was formed a month ago in a show of solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Zaida Gamiet, of Gelvan Park, said the protest lasted for about 30 minutes and started in the parking area outside Woolworths.

"We remained there for about 20 minutes and there was a speaker addressing the group with a loud hailer.

"There are many stores that stock products from Israel but because Woolworths is one of the biggest we decided to take on one giant at a time and hopefully the rest will follow," she said.

Gamiet said Woolworths stocked food such as litchis, mangoes, plums and figs imported from Israel. Its coriander and hummus were also imported from Israel.

However, Woolworths said less than 0.1% of the food in its stores was from Israel. - Lee-Anne Butler