The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that the death toll from violence in Gaza has risen to 32, including six children.
AFP reports that the victims have been killed since Friday in Israeli strikes that also wounded 215 people.
However, Israeli authorities deny culpability, saying the children were killed Saturday by a rocket fired by militants from the Gaza Strip toward Israel that failed.
of South Africa Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) issued a statement strongly condemning the violence.
“Of particular concern is that statements by the Israeli military indicate that the operation will ‘take a long time’ and that ongoing attacks continue to put innocent civilians at serious risk,” Dirka said.
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“The attacks, which kill innocent civilians, have no justification and are all the more heinous because they are being carried out by the occupying power, which has been besieging the Gaza Strip for more than a decade in violation of international law.
“As an occupying power, Israel has certain obligations in terms of international human rights and humanitarian law, which it continues to violate with impunity,” Dirka said.
The department also called on the international community to act more decisively against the Israeli occupation forces and end the violence.
“The killing of children by the Israeli government must be addressed immediately.
“The UN Secretary-General’s report on children in armed conflict states that there is an alarming increase in serious violations against children,” Dirko said.
More and more children are dying in the occupied Palestinian territory
Dirka said that in the occupied Palestinian territory, Israeli forces have significantly increased the killing and maiming of children during hostilities, airstrikes on densely populated areas and the use of live ammunition during law enforcement operations.
“It is disappointing to note that the report found 2,934 serious violations against 1,208 Palestinian children and 9 Israeli children.
“Responsibility for these violations must be maintained to ensure that these violations do not continue,” Dirka emphasized.
“In this regard, South Africa agrees with the Secretary-General’s proposal that steps should be taken to include Israel and other groups in the list of parties if they do not take measures to prevent violations and improve the protection of children.”
Pandor advocates compromise and dialogue
International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandar recently said: “South Africa is concerned about the ongoing human rights violations in the occupied territories and reiterates that such violations only serve to incite hatred.”
Pando stressed that the security of Israel and its future generations does not lie in the annexation of all Palestinian territories and the imprisonment of Palestinians.
“Rather, it is in a peaceful and stable neighbor, a sovereign and independent Palestinian state, whose children, like Israeli children, can go to school, play, visit places of worship and compete in sporting events in peace and safety,” Pandar said. .
“This can be achieved through sustained dialogue, negotiation and mediation, where both sides respect each other, and through compromise and understanding,” Pandor concluded.
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