Ramaphosa: ANC deeply concerned about situation in Rafah
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has raised concerns about the possibility of a full-scale Israeli assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
Israeli bombardment in the eastern parts of Rafah has already sent 300,000 Gazans fleeing.
The United States and other countries, as well as top United Nations officials, have warned that a full-out assault on Rafah could have a disastrous impact on the refugees driven there by fighting elsewhere in Gaza, many of them living in desperate conditions.
Israel has said it is attempting to keep civilian casualties to a minimum.
The UN and humanitarian groups estimate that somewhere between 1.2 and 1.4 million people were living in the Rafah area before the Israeli operation in the eastern part of the city began.
On Monday, the ANC hosted a delegation of Muslim leaders and scholars from across the globe at the party’s Luthuli House headquarters in Johannesburg.
Ramaphosa said the ANC is also concerned about the continued denial of humanitarian assistance to Gaza.
"We continue to be disturbed that the State of Israel, through its defence force, continues its attacks against Palestinian people, now having led to almost 40 000 people dead, most of them being women and children.
"And now we are deeply concerned that their attack in Rafah is just going to lead to the increase of deaths.”
The delegation is in South Africa on a thanksgiving mission to acknowledge the ANC and the people of South Africa for their solidarity with the people of Palestine.
Ramaphosa said those who were initially silent on the call for a ceasefire have since changed their tunes.
"Many now do advocate for a ceasefire, demonstrating that the action that we took as South Africa was a correct one because to stop the genocide in Gaza can only happen through a ceasefire.
"We are pleased that many in the world can see that there is a need for a ceasefire,. We will continue to call for a ceasefire, and we will continue to call for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.”
Gaza's bloodiest-ever war began following Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel that resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.
During their attack, militants also seized hostages. Israel estimates 128 captives remain in Gaza, including 36 who the military says are dead.
*Additional reporting by AFP
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