By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the violence between Israel and Gaza and calling for an immediate ceasefire, as Gaza death toll surpasses 1,200.
Ramaphosa said South Africa stands ready to share its experience in mediation and conflict resolution as it has done on the continent and around the world,” it said.
He’s called for the establishment of humanitarian corridors to assist the many civilians caught up in the war.
The president has extended his condolences to all victims of the violence, calling for its immediate end.
“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.”
Ramaphosa says international efforts to achieve lasting peace must be accelerated – and should include a viable Palestinian State that exists alongside Israel.
Around 150 Israelis, foreigners and dual nationals were abducted to the Gaza Strip by Hamas militants as part of the Saturday attack in Israeli towns and communities around the enclave.
Israel has, in turn, launched a withering air campaign against Hamas militants in the blockaded Gaza Strip.
In recent days Israel announced a “complete siege” on Gaza, cutting off water, fuel and electricity supplies. The Palestinian territory’s sole power plant shut down on Wednesday after running out of fuel.
Zev Krengel, the national vice-president of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies, told a press conference on Monday: “I think South Africa could have had a major role to play. I think it still could, with our relationship with Hamas and with Egypt.”
“We have had quite a bit of success where we’ve been the honest broker, where both sides have listened to us. So how could we have played a role in Russia? Because we’ve always had the ear of Putin … so when Ramaphosa went there he could do something.”
But Krengel added that South Africa’s problem was that Israel did not see it as an honest broker because South Africa had downgraded its embassy in Tel Aviv.
Roelf Meyer, head of the In Transformation Initiative (ITI) which has mediated in many international conflicts, agreed that South Africa could play a role, but only in a collective effort with others.
Meyer recalled that in 2015 and 2016, ITI had brought representatives of Hamas and Fatah (which runs the Palestinian National Authority in the West Bank) together in South Africa, to try to overcome their divisions and give impetus to the stalled peace process. The initiative was backed by the Barack Obama administration and had made progress. But it faded after Donald Trump took office.