The government has vowed to spare no money effort in its commitment to bring home a handful of South Africans who remain trapped in the besieged Gaza Strip.
International Relations and Cooperation Director General Zane Dangor made the promise at the OR Tambo International Airport moments after welcoming a group of 19 patriots who had been stuck in the enclave amid indiscriminate bombardment by Israeli forces purportedly in pursuit of resistance movement Hamas.
“We are happy that you are home and aware that a few of your loved ones are ones remain in the remain there and we are are doing everything possible to bring them home. We have their names and our team is there working on it so we will do everything within our powers to bring them home,” said Dangor stressing that Israel was waiting a war on the people of Palestine and not Hamas as claimed.
The DG encouraged the group to share their experience publicly so that South Africans can have a full understanding of what is happening in Gaza.
“If you do want to tell your story please do I think its important that South Africans hear me first hand what the situation in Gaza was,” he said.
Two of those rescued did take a moment to give accounts of the situation back in Palestine and called on the global community to intervene to stop the “ongoing genocide”.
On behalf of the group, an outspoken Zaakira Cothia expressed gratitude to the South African government for the successful evacuation.
“All thanks to President Ramaphosa for making sure that he got the South Africans that he promised on TV he’ll get them out those that are trapped and I want to express deep gratitude to all the team of the South Africa, its been a difficult period but I’m grateful, well done South Africa,” she said.
More than fifteen thousand Palestinians have been killed since fighting started on November 7 including women, children, the elderly, Healthcare workers as well as journalists while the Israeli government put casualties on its side at a thousand, a figure yet to be verified.
A recent four-day break in fighting resulted in the two sides exchanging prisoners and created hope of a ceasefire but Israel has vowed to continue fighting arguing there are no innocent Palestinians.