From Cape to Athens, people march for ceasefire

Protesters marched in cities around the world over the weekend calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon as the war in the Palestinian territory neared the one-year mark.

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In Cape Town, hundreds walked to parliament, chanting: "Israel is a racist state" and "We are all Palestinian." Pro-Gaza marches were also planned in Johannesburg and Durban.

In Washington, more than 1000 protesters demonstrated outside the White House, demanding the United States stop providing weapons and aid to Israel.

One man attempted to set himself on fire, succeeding in setting his left arm ablaze before bystanders and police extinguished the flames.

Thousands of pro-Palestinian supporters also gathered across Europe, Africa, Australia and the Americas to demand an end to the conflict, which has killed nearly 42 000 people in Gaza.

Candlelight vigils are set to take place on the anniversary today of Hamas' attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1205 people, mostly civilians.