South Africa calls for the protection of civilians in Gaza

South Africa called on the United Nations today to protect civilians in the Gaza Strip from continued bombing by the Israeli occupation forces.

Reuters quoted the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs as saying in a statement on Monday that “entire generations of families have been eliminated in Gaza during the past three weeks,” noting that “25 members of the family of a member of the Palestinian community in Johannesburg were killed in an Israeli airstrike today.

The statement added: “The death toll, especially among the children, require the world to show that it is serious about global accountability”.

By calling for the formation of a protection force, South Africa’s support for the Palestinians is increased among other countries, some of which have called for a ceasefire or the opening of a humanitarian corridor to allow aid to enter Gaza.

South Africa has long advocated peace in the region, likening the plight of the Palestinians to what it witnessed under the apartheid regime that ended in 1994.

Leen Al Salman