President Cyril Ramaphosa says the deliberate denial of medicine, fuel, food and water to the residents of Gaza is tantamount to genocide.
In his opening remarks in the extraordinary summit of the BRICS group of nations on Tuesday, Ramaphosa accused both Israel and Hamas of war crimes.
He says while Israel’s bombing of hospitals, schools and a refugee camp, among others, are a clear violation of international law, Hamas also did the same when it attacked civilians on October 7 and took some of them hostage.
The President believes both parties should be held accountable for their actions.
More than 14 000 people, housands of them children, have so far been killed in the almost seven weeks-old Israel-Hamas conflict.
The President has joined other world leaders, including his Brics counterparts and the UN chief, in reiterating the call for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire.
Opening remarks by President @CyrilRamaphosa to the Extraordinary Joint Meeting of BRICS Leaders and Leaders of invited BRICS members on the situation in the Middle East. https://t.co/0mIyRTlgdJ pic.twitter.com/wl1G9Vfjbc
β Presidency | South Africa πΏπ¦ (@PresidencyZA) November 21, 2023
As South Africans, we appreciate the importance and value of international solidarity. As an important voice of the Global South representing a large part of humanity, we believe that BRICS has a vital role in a widespread international effort to achieve a just and lasting peace.β¦ pic.twitter.com/zhpxYZGDIR
β Cyril Ramaphosa πΏπ¦ (@CyrilRamaphosa) November 21, 2023
Political analyst, Professor John Stremlau, believes a combined stance against the atrocities committed in the Middle East is key to ending the stalemate.
Stremlau says agrees that a ceasefire is needed at this juncture.
Reflecting on the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, the DRC and Sudan, Stremlau told YNews that the lack of solutions to societal problems is one of the reasons why conflicts continue unabated across the globe.
Thousands of lives have been lost and countless others displaced in these conflicts that have been going on for years now.
The Professor also weighed in on the International Criminal Court (ICC) saying it is investigating possible war crimes in the deadly Middle East Conflict.
The ICC says investigations into the Israeli-Palestinian war have been ongoing since 2021.
However, Stremalu says it’s all good and well – but the challenge in this situation is the court’s lack of enforcement powers.
Written by: Nonhlanhla Harris
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