Pretoria, South Africa – South Africa has expressed deep concern over the escalating violence in the Middle East and called on all parties to exercise restraint.
In a statement released by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), South Africa condemned the recent military actions by Israel against Palestine and Lebanon. The government also voiced dismay over Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks in response to Israel’s killing of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah.
“The continued occupation of Palestine has denied its people their fundamental rights to self-determination and statehood,” the DIRCO statement said. “This ongoing conflict has caused immense suffering to vulnerable populations in the region.”
South Africa joined the international community in calling on the United Nations Security Council to take urgent action to address the escalating tensions and prevent further escalation.
The government also echoed the concerns raised by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who warned of the grave danger of a region-wide war. Guterres emphasized that the world cannot afford another conflict in the Middle East.
South Africa reiterated its commitment to upholding international law, human rights law, and the principles of the United Nations Charter. The government stressed that impunity for unlawful acts would only perpetuate violence and injustice.
