Picture: A trail of destruction in Gaza/Reuters
By KEDIBONE MOLAETSI
7 October 2024- The Republic of South Africa (RSA) president, Cyril Ramaphosa said today marks one year since the start of an onslaught against the Palestinian people that has thus far claimed more than 43 000 lives.
Ramaphosa said in his weekly letter to the nation that, the violence that has been committed by Israel against Palestinians over many decades, intensified after an attack on Israel by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups on 7 October 2023.
He further said South Africa has condemned the atrocities committed against civilians in Israel on 7 October 2023, as it has denounced the killing of civilians in any context. Ramaphosa added that the majority of those killed over the past year, are Palestinian civilians, largely women and children in the besieged Gaza Strip.
“It is alarming that more Palestinians are also being killed in the West Bank due to Israeli Defence Force military activities. More than 1000 Israelis were killed in the attacks of 7 October last year.
“Over 100 Israelis remain in captivity in Gaza. There are over 6000 Palestinians, who are languishing in Israeli jails. As South Africa, we have consistently called for a resolution to the conflict and the release of all the hostages abducted on 7 October 2023,” he said.
Ramaphosa said they have also called for the release of all the prisoners unlawfully detained in Israel. He said they cannot, but be moved by the plight of all the families who have loved ones in captivity.
“With negotiations to secure their release having once again stalled and Israel’s bombardment of Gaza continuing, the conflict shows no signs of abating.
“Amid efforts by the international community to secure a ceasefire, the situation has been worsened by strikes by Israel on Lebanon and by Iran on Israel,” said Ramaphosa.
He said Israel has vowed to retaliate against Iran and Iran has threatened to respond accordingly. Ramaphosa said the escalating situation in the Middle East is of grave concern.
“It threatens to plunge the region into a war in which civilians will inevitably bear the greatest and the cruellest brunt of this conflict. As the UN Secretary-General has said, each escalation after the next is leading the people of the Middle East over the cliff.
“We remain committed to the peaceful resolution to ending the occupation of Palestine, to upholding the tenets of international law and to advancing social justice. We once again call for an immediate ceasefire that will end the suffering of the people of Gaza and allow for humanitarian aid to reach those in need,” he said.
The Guardian 