South Africa President accuses Israel for War Crimes

During the extraordinary summit of the BRICS group of nations on Tuesday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa condemned Israel, accusing the nation of committing war crimes and perpetrating what he described as “genocide” in Gaza.

Cyril Ramaphosa chaired the virtual meeting involving major emerging economies—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—seeking a unified response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

In his address, Ramaphosa strongly criticized Israel for what he termed as the “collective punishment” of Palestinian civilians, emphasizing the alleged unlawful use of force. He specifically highlighted the denial of essential supplies such as medicine, fuel, food, and water to Gaza residents, branding it as tantamount to genocide.

The conflict escalated following a deadly attack by Hamas gunmen on October 7, resulting in the deaths of approximately 1,200 individuals, predominantly civilians, marking it as the deadliest assault in Israel’s history.

In retaliation, Israel initiated a widespread bombing campaign and ground offensive in Gaza, which is under the governance of Hamas. According to Hamas reports, the conflict has claimed over 13,300 lives, including thousands of children.

Amidst these discussions, Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh indicated the possibility of a forthcoming truce agreement with Israel. Qatar, serving as a mediator, stated that negotiations to secure the release of hostages taken by the Palestinian Islamist group were nearing a potential breakthrough.

Ramaphosa emphasized the urgent need for an “immediate and comprehensive ceasefire” and proposed the deployment of a United Nations force to monitor the cessation of hostilities and safeguard civilians.

During the summit, Ramaphosa urged collective efforts among nations to address the ongoing death toll and destruction in Gaza. He called upon the participating countries to unite in their actions, portraying the meeting as a rallying call to put an end to what he deemed a historical injustice.

The comments made by President Ramaphosa echo the growing international concern over the intensifying conflict in the region and the pressing need for diplomatic intervention to halt the devastating consequences for civilians caught in the crossfire.