Pretoria – Government says it has noted with growing concern the escalation of violence between Israel and Palestinian territories.
According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, government is further concerned at the “endless wanton” killing of Palestinian civilians, especially those from vulnerable groups such as old men, women and children and the destruction of property.
A total of 87 people have been killed and 670 wounded since Israeli began its airstrikes campaign against targets in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday.
The Israeli bombardments have led to the destruction of homes in Gaza and innocent civilians being killed in these air strikes, noted government.
It said it was also concerned about the increasing number of rockets targeted at Israeli cities - with some reaching as far north as Haifa putting innocent civilians at risk.
Government said the threatened ground invasion of the Gaza Strip “will certainly throw the situation completely out of control”.
“We do not agree that the cruel incidents of the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli boys and the subsequent kidnapping and murder of a Palestinian boy in Jerusalem be used as grounds to escalate the violence.
“Furthermore, these unfortunate incidents should not be used, from whatever quarter, to cast aspersions on the legitimate existence of the Unity Government in Palestine, whose advent was welcomed by the whole of peace-loving mankind,” said the department.
South Africa has strongly urged all sides to refrain from responding to violence with violence and to exercise restraint, including a halt to the arbitrary arrest of Palestinian civilians and the use of collective punishment on Palestinians.
“The lasting solution to the Middle East problem lies in serious and genuine negotiations involving all parties.”- SAnews.gov.za
