New York – President Cyril Ramaphosa has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza and urged the international community to recognise Palestinian statehood.
He delivered his remarks on Monday during the high-level two-state solution debate at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, coinciding with the UN’s 80th anniversary.
The call came as Britain, Australia and Canada formally recognised Palestine in what has been described as a major shift in Western foreign policy. Portugal and several other countries were also preparing to follow suit. Israel condemned the move, insisting that a two-state solution was no longer viable after the October 7 attacks.
Ramaphosa told world leaders that Israel’s actions in Gaza amounted to genocide and that the expansion of settlements in the West Bank was designed to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state. He said Israel’s “stated intention to annex the entirety of the Occupied Palestinian Territories” made the situation even more dire.
The South African president stressed that a two-state solution could only survive if all states respected international law and complied with United Nations resolutions and decisions of the International Court of Justice.
He called for global recognition of Palestine, an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages by Hamas and political prisoners by Israel, an end to illegal settlements, and the removal of barriers such as the separation wall. He further pressed for the restoration of humanitarian aid and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
Ramaphosa added that unrestricted humanitarian access through air, land and sea was vital to provide basic services and aid to those in Gaza.
He said the conflict, which has lasted almost as long as the UN has existed, would remain a stain on the conscience of the world if Palestinians continued to be denied self-determination, sovereignty and human rights.
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