With the surge of atrocities committed in Gaza and hundreds of thousands of people vehemently supporting both camps in the battle, and both parties ultimately calling for a respect of human rights, a King David student has landed in the middle of it all.

The schools’ deputy head boy, Joshua Broomberg, was tagged in a photograph on Facebook with his debating team colleagues wearing traditional Palestinian scarves and flags.

Naturally, with tensions running high and such symbols holding stereotyped meanings for many people the response was explosive, with a petition emerging to strip Joshua of his school honours and suspend him. King David has, however, defended Bloomberg saying that it would continue to promote freedom of speech.

While hundreds of people signed the petition [against Bloomberg], its demands have been described as “disgraceful” and “despicable” by former government minister Ronnie Kasrils.

Kasrils has compared Broomberg to anti-apartheid icons like Braam Fischer and Joe Slovo, saying he is clearly made of “sterling stuff”.

“It’s disgraceful and shows intolerance to someone expressing their views and is entitled to do so.”

The South African Board of Jewish Education’s Rabbi Craig Kacev says they’ve been speaking to Broomberg and his family.

“We encourage critical thinking, we encourage our learners to debate and there’s no censorship in our school.”

Joshua has remained adamant that he can support Israel as a nation and still be critical of their actions. While this stance certainly requires a level of critical thinking not often reached by the general public (especially when acting en mass), it should hardly be surprising for the captain of the South African national debating team to hold such a stance.

More details available at Eyewitness News