President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for an immediate end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, which has resulted in the deaths of nearly 2,500 people in Gaza and Israel since Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel this past Saturday.
At least 150 hostages were taken into Gaza during Hamas’s deadly attacks, while Israel’s retaliatory air strikes have displaced nearly 350,000 people.
ALSO READ: The latest on the war
The President echoed UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres call for the immediate and unconditional opening of humanitarian corridors into Gaza.
This after Israel instituted a complete blockade of the strip, meaning no water, food or fuel.
The @UN must be allowed access to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians trapped & helpless in the Gaza Strip.
I appeal to the international community to mobilize immediate humanitarian support for this effort. pic.twitter.com/Y3VmubuhtV
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) October 9, 2023
Israel’s Energy Minister Israel Katz earlier posted on X (previously Twitter) that the siege of Gaza will not end until Israeli hostages are released.
Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Israel today in a show of support for the country. Blinken will also meet Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas. President Abbas is not connected to Hamas.
I’m in Israel today to make one thing clear: The United States stands with Israel and its people, and we will always stand — resolutely — against terrorism. pic.twitter.com/25KCfkjp3S
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) October 12, 2023
Ramaphosa has extended his condolences to all victims of the conflict.
“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 President Ramaphosa.
The President has further urged the international community to accelerate it’s support to 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.”
ALSO READ: Surviving the Hamas attack on Saturday
