By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday, called for a draft declaration of the Group of 20 meeting of top economies on its deadly war on the Gaza Strip.
In a statement on his X account, Saar said the final statement of the G20 summit must recognize what he called Israel’s right to defend itself and condemn Palestinian resistance group Hamas and Lebanese movement Hezbollah.
Israel has launched a brutal onslaught on the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack last year, killing nearly 43,800 people, mostly women and children, and injuring over 103,600 others.
The conflict has spread to Lebanon, with Israel launching deadly strikes across the country in an escalation from a year of cross-border warfare between Israel and Hezbollah since the start of the Gaza war. Nearly 3,500 people have since been killed and over 14,600 others injured.
Saar said he talked with his counterparts from the G20 countries to include in the final statement what he called “recognition of Israel’s right to defend itself,” demand the release of Israeli captives in Gaza, and condemn both Hamas and Hezbollah.
He warned that any other statement that does not address Israel’s concerns “will harm the peace and security” of the region.
Leaders of the G20 group of largest economies will meet in Rio de Janeiro on Monday and Tuesday for their annual summit hosted by Brazil.
Addressing the G20 social summit in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola once again reminded the international community that South Africa is free from apartheid because of the solidarity displayed by the international community, including Brazil.
“It’s against this background that South Africa continues to advocate for the self-determination, for the cessation of fire, and hostilities in Gaza and in Palestine,” he said.
“We continue to call for accountability for the state of Israel, and for the de-escalation of the conflict that is continuing in the Middle East. We stand with the people of Palestine and we call for all members of society to do the same.”
Lamola said South Africa will be building on Brazil’s initiative during its presidency of the G20 to include civil society in its programme – so that the voices of the grassroots can also be heard.
Meanwhile President Cyril Ramaphosa celebrates 72nd birthday in Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro ahead of the G20 summit.
Ramaphosa will lead South Africa’s participation at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro from Monday.
South Africa takes over the G20 presidency from next month.
The African National Congress (ANC) National Communications Assembly was among those who sent him a celebratory message, singing Happy Birthday to him during a meeting.
“Thank you for your dedication and commitment to our people. May you continue to lead us well in the charge of defending our freedom and advancing a better life for all,” it said in a message to Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa was born on 17 November 1952 in Johannesburg. He started law school at the University of the North in 1972, where he became involved in student politics by joining the South African Student Organisation. After obtaining his undergraduate degree, he started working as a lawyer in a law firm. He then joined the Council of Unions of South Africa (CUSA) as a legal advisor.
After South Africa’s first democratic elections on 27 April 1994, Ramaphosa became a member of parliament and was elected as Chairperson of the Constitutional Assembly. In this position, he was responsible for drafting South Africa’s first internationally recognised democratic constitution. His political career spans an important contribution to South Africa’s transition to democracy.
In December 2017, Ramaphosa was elected as the head the African National Congress. In February 2018, he became President of the Republic of South Africa following the resignation of Jacob Zuma. He was subsequently re-elected as president of South Africa in June 2024.