South Africa urges Israel to adhere to its obligations under international law and protect civilians, the South African Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"South Africa calls on Israel once again to adhere to its obligations under international law and protect civilians as required under the Geneva Conventions and under International Humanitarian Law," the statement read.
The ministry also called on the international community to denounce the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) strikes in the area of al-Shifa and al-Quds hospitals in the Gaza Strip.
"Ongoing threats by Israel to bomb the al-Shifa and al-Quds hospitals where thousands of displaced civilians are sheltering must be condemned by the international community," the ministry said.
Earlier, the foreign ministry noted that the country's authorities called on the United Nations to create forces to protect the civilian population of Palestine from Israeli bombing.
On Friday, the IDF said it had struck an ambulance that was allegedly used by the Palestinian movement Hamas, with several Hamas militants killed. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres later said he was shocked by reports of this strike.
On October 7, Israel was subjected to an unprecedented rocket attack from the Gaza Strip as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood announced by Hamas. Moreover, the organization's militants penetrated into the border areas in southern Israel, where they opened fire on both military and civilians, and also took more than 200 hostages. In Israel, according to local authorities, more than 1,400 people were killed, including 300 soldiers, and more than 5,000 were injured.
In response, the IDF launched Operation Iron Swords against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In a few days, the Israeli military took control of all settlements near the border with Gaza and began air strikes on targets, including civilians, in the region. Israel also announced a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip: the supply of water, food, electricity, medicines, fuel has been stopped.
The number of victims in the Gaza Strip exceeded 9,400 people, over 24,000 were injured, Gaza's health ministry said. According to various sources, about 150 Israelis may be held captive by Hamas. The militants stated that there are about 200-250 prisoners in the Gaza Strip.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, the settlement of the Middle East crisis is possible only on the basis of
The Palestinian-Israeli conflict, related to the territorial interests of the parties, has been a source of tension and clashes in the region for many decades. The decision of the UN with the active role of the Soviet Union in 1947 determined the creation of two states – Israel and Palestine, but only the Israeli one was created at that point. Later, the the UN Security Council approved a "two-state" formula, which provides for the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.