South Africa on Monday called for the United Nations to deploy a rapid protection force in order to safeguard civilians in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza. This request comes amid increased Israeli retaliation for a deadly attack by Hamas.
South Africa has consistently advocated for peace in the region, drawing parallels between the Palestinian situation and its own struggles during the apartheid era, which concluded in 1994.
By requesting the deployment of a protection force, South Africa has exhibited more extensive support for the Palestinian cause compared to many other nations. While some countries have called for a ceasefire or the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to facilitate aid delivery to Gaza, South Africa’s stance goes beyond these measures.
“Entire generations of families have been wiped out in Gaza over the last three weeks,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Israel has escalated its blockade and aerial bombardment of Gaza following an incursion by Hamas on October 7th, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,400 individuals.
Reports from Gaza indicate intense air and artillery strikes early on Monday.
According to the statement, a member of the Palestinian community in Johannesburg lost 25 family members in an Israeli airstrike on Monday morning, while the family members of a senior Palestinian diplomat in South Africa perished in an airstrike on their apartment building the day prior.
“The numbers of non-combatants killed, especially the numbers of children killed, requires that the world to show that it is serious about global accountability,” the statement said.
Medical authorities in Gaza reported on Sunday that 8,005 individuals had lost their lives during the three-week war. Reuters, however, could not independently verify these statistics.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had previously extended an offer to mediate in the conflict. Additionally, South Africa had announced earlier this month that its foreign minister engaged in a conversation with the leader of Hamas regarding the facilitation of aid to Gaza.
