Parliament joins call for diplomacy amid escalating Middle East crisis
The chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation has backed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s call for all parties involved in the Middle East conflict to show restraint and to follow international law and UN principles.
Supra Mahumapelo voiced concern over the rapid escalation of tensions following a large-scale joint US-Israeli offensive against Iran.
Israel and Hezbollah traded fire on Monday as the fallout from US-Israeli strikes on Iran widened, with attacks in Gulf states and a British base in Cyprus.
US President Donald Trump vowed to avenge the deaths of US service members and said the war with Iran could last for weeks.
Mahumapelo warned that these developments pose a serious threat to regional and global peace, with wide-reaching humanitarian, diplomatic, and economic consequences.
“We are calling on all those who are involved for inclusive dialogue and a genuine commitment to justice and peace, and for intensification of diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions,” he said.
"We are calling on the international community and regional partners to promote mediation and peace in the Middle East. The international community has never failed in the promotion of dialogue and peace in strife-torn countries and regions in the whole world.”
Amid the escalating crisis, key cities and transport hubs in the Middle East have seen heightened security measures, while global leaders urge urgent diplomatic interventions to prevent further destabilisation and protect civilians caught in the conflict.
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