By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa says the only way to bring about peace in the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is the fulfilment of the legitimate aspiration of the Palestinian people to human rights, dignity and statehood.
Ramaphosa was speaking at the Cairo Peace Summit in Egypt on Saturday with twelve state leaders gathering to discuss the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
The summit comes two weeks after the militant Palestinian movement Hamas’ surprise attack in the south of Israel, which left at least 1300 people dead. Israel’s subsequent retaliatory bombing of Gaza has claimed 3,785 lives, according to health officials in Gaza.
Ramaphosa expressed concern that the response of the Israeli government to the attack on its citizens would further deepen a conflict that has engulfed the region for decades and will make the attainment of “a just and lasting peace” even more difficult.
“We are also concerned that this conflict can spread to include other countries in the region. This must be avoided at all costs,” he said.
Ramaphosa called on all parties to exercise restraint and on all state actors to desist from providing weapons to either of the sides of the conflict.
He said the international community has a responsibility and a duty to support peace and to create favourable conditions for negotiation and dialogue.
“As South Africans we can relate to what is happening to Palestinians. Our people waged a brave and courageous struggle to achieve their freedom and were subjected to untold suffering just like the Palestinians are going through.
“The nightmare of apartheid was only brought to an end by the relentless struggle of our people and the courage and foresight of leaders who put aside their differences and sought peace rather than revenge, “Ramaphosa said.
Ramaphosa said peace is the only option to bring about peace between between Israel and Palestine.
“We are concerned that the response of the Israeli government to the attack on its citizens will further deepen a conflict that has engulfed the region for many decades and will make the attainment of a just and lasting peace even more difficult. We are also concerned that this conflict can spread to include other countries in the region. This must be avoided at all costs.
?? His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa delivering his address at the Cairo Summit for Peace currently underway in Egypt to discuss the ongoing escalation of the conflict in Israel and the Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/YtU4XowsMJ
— Presidency | South Africa ?? (@PresidencyZA) October 21, 2023
Ramaphosa called for a United Nations-led negotiation process towards resolving the conflict.
“We call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the release of hostages, the lifting of the siege of Gaza, opening of humanitarian corridors and the urgent provision of humanitarian aid on the required scale to the people of Gaza. We also call for a UN-led negotiation process towards resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”
He said the international community had a responsibility and duty to support peace and create favourable conditions for negotiation and dialogue.