President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on all the countries to act urgently to stop the continuous genocide committed by Israel in Gaza.
Ramaphosa also implored nations to provide humanitarian assistance, to stop famine and starvation in Gaza.
He was addressing the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA.
“Therefore, as nations that have pledged to uphold the UN Charter, we have the ultimate responsibility to ensure and protect the rights of the Palestinian people to self-determination. Consistent with the case that South Africa brought before the International Court of Justice, there is growing global consensus that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Just last week, the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry found that Israel is responsible for the commission of genocide in Gaza.
As Palestinians continue to face genocide and famine, we have a duty to act,” said Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa commended the global support for the establishment of the State of Palestine.
Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom, are the latest to recognise the State of Palestine.
“We welcome the historic High-Level Meeting held yesterday on the Two-State Solution yesterday in this chamber. This reflects the determination of the global majority that Palestinians deserve a peaceful state alongside a peaceful Israel. The long overdue announcement by an increasing number of countries to recognise the State of Palestine is testament to this determination,” remarked Ramaphosa.
Furthermore, the president lambasted the United Nations Security Council for failing to reform itself and useless by failing to keep global peace.
His comments come as there’s pressure on the Council to include other countries, especially in Africa, a seat at the council.
Ramaphosa said the Council must be more accountable, representative, democratic and effective in executing its mandate.
“The United Nations Security Council has proven to be ineffective in its current form and composition in carrying out its Charter mandate to maintain international peace and security. South Africa remains deeply concerned by the erosion of the credibility of the Security Council and its failure to ensure accountability and uphold international law. As the security and humanitarian situations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Gaza and elsewhere deteriorate, it is a matter of grave concern that there are countries that continue to violate international law and defy UN resolutions and rulings from bodies like the International Court of Justice,” stressed Ramaphosa.
Meanwhile, Ramaphosa raised concerns about the existential threat of climate change, and said global nations are failing future generations by their inability to reduce global warming.
He cautioned that climate change is reversing economic growth and development gains in many countries, especially in the Global South, and mostly affecting African countries.
