Picture: for illustration purposes
As the conflict between Israel and Hamas escalates, South Africa has made a bold call for the deployment of a United Nations rapid protection force to Gaza — the objective, to protect civilians from the ongoing Israeli bombardments. This plea from the country's foreign ministry emerged as a sign of mounting global concern over the increasing civilian death toll in the region.
The foreign ministry, while addressing the urgency of the matter, stated, "The numbers of non-combatants killed, especially the numbers of children killed, requires that the world shows that it is serious about global accountability."
As both air and artillery strikes persist in the Palestinian enclave, and the Israeli armed forces continue their ground incursion supported by tanks, the plight of Gaza's civilians is growing more precarious by the day. Israel initiated a full-scale war in response to the deadly Hamas cross-border attack from the Gaza Strip on October 7, which claimed 1,400 civilian and military lives.
Despite Israel's assertions, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports a death toll exceeding eight thousand since the commencement of clashes. This number includes numerous women and children trapped in the conflict.
The United Nations humanitarian office (OCHR) released a statement highlighting that rescue efforts are becoming increasingly challenging. Consequently, international pressure for Palestinian civilians to be safeguarded is mounting.
South Africa, identified as a peace advocate in the region, has likened the suffering of Palestinians to its own experiences under apartheid. The call for a UN protection force marks an intensified support compared to most nations, several of which have only advocated for ceasefires or the establishment of humanitarian corridors.