South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa in a statement released on Wednesday called for immediate opening of humanitarian corridors and extended his condolences to all victims of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
This follows an escalation of hostilities on Saturday, 7 October 2023 that has left more than a thousand people dead.
“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, the exercise of restraint. It is vital that all those who require urgent humanitarian assistance are provided with basic life supporting necessities and that human suffering is ameliorated,” said President Ramaphosa.
South African President further urged the international community to accelerate it’s support to an inclusive process towards a lasting, durable peace that producew viable Palestinian State.
“With 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,” concluded President Ramaphosa.
Media Bypass News had earlier reported that the South African Government has expressed grave concern over the recent devastating escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict while called for a just and comprehensive peace between the two countries.
In a statement released by the government on Monday said United Nations resolutions and international law matter, adding that international community can not avoid its duty to act, and together, must shoulder the responsibility to remove obstacles to peace and any violations of international law.
It said, “Violence, killings, imprisonment, forced removals, illegal settlements, and the continued siege of Gaza are not conducive to resolving conflict. Urgent attention must be given to resolving the final status issues such as borders, the status of Jerusalem, the release of political prisoners, and the right of return.
“No real and lasting peace in Israel, Palestine, and the region is possible in the absence of just comprehensive resolution of the conflict. Israelis, Palestinians, the region do not stand to gain anything from escalated tensions, increased violence, growing instability, and a continued and protracted violent conflict”.
It therefore called on both countries to seize the opportunity for peace as opposed to violence, and for the international community to actively rise on side of its own International resolutions and establish a credible peace process.
