Lerato Mbhiza
Following the escalation of hostilities after Saturday’s Hamas attack on Israel, leaving more than a 1 000 dead, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has issued a statement calling for the immediate and unconditional opening of humanitarian corridors to assist the people of Gaza access food and medical aid.
In a statement on Thursday, Ramaphosa sent his condolences to the victims of the war between Israel and Palestine.
“Our thoughts are with all the victims’ families and loved ones during this perilous period of fighting. We remain gravely concerned at the devastating escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the atrocities committed against civilian populations.
“We call for the immediate cessation of violence and the exercise of restraint. It is vital that all those who require urgent humanitarian assistance are provided with the basic life supporting necessities and that human suffering is ameliorated,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa has urged the international community to accelerate its support for an inclusive process towards a lasting and durable peace that produces a viable Palestinian State, existing in peace alongside Israel, within the 1967 internationally recognised borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
“South Africa stands ready to work with the international community and to share our experience in mediation and conflict resolution as we have done on the continent and around the world,” he said
Israel has maintained its bombardment of the Gaza Strip on Wednesday while also striking targets in southern Lebanon, as armed wings of Palestinian militant groups continue to fire rockets.
The death toll in Israel has surged above 900 from what has been reported as the worst attack in the country’s 75-year history, while Gaza officials have reported 765 people killed so far. The Israel army said the bodies of about 1 500 militants had been found.
Numerous major airlines, including Air France-KLM, Lufthansa, and the US international carriers, have all suspended flights to Tel Aviv since Hamas launched its assault on Israel on Saturday.
INSIDE POLITICS
