Cape Town – President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed condolences to all the victims of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and offered South Africa’s experience in mediation and conflict resolution to the international community.
This comes in response to the recent escalation of hostilities that has left about 2000 people dead, 160 000 displaced and 7000 injured.
“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,” Ramaphosa said in a statement.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, the militant faction of Hamas initiated an unexpected assault on Israel from the Gaza Strip.
As a response, Israel has officially declared a state of war against Hamas, launching a massive series of rocket attacks on Gaza. Gaza is among the most densely populated areas globally, with approximately two million residents, nearly half of whom are children, residing in this confined 365-square-kilometer region.
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Ramaphosa has called for the immediate and unconditional opening of humanitarian corridors and urged an end to the violence and the exercise of restraint.
“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,” President Ramaphosa said.
He also called for international support for an inclusive process towards a lasting and viable Palestinian State, coexisting peacefully with Israel, based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
