President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the announcement by the State of Qatar that a four-day humanitarian pause has been agreed upon between Hamas and Israel.
This comes a day after the BRICS leaders called an emergency virtual meeting to discuss the current situation in Gaza.
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‘As a member of the international community that stands for peace, justice and the rule of international law in all parts of the world, South Africa welcomes the agreement reached,’ President Ramaphosa said in a statement on Wednesday.
‘It is my hope that the achievement of this pause will strengthen efforts to achieve an outright end to the current conflict.’
Hamas announced the humanitarian truce agreement on Wednesday.
‘Following several days of negotiations, we announce, with the assistance and guidance of Allah the Almighty, the reaching of a humanitarian truce agreement (temporary ceasefire) spanning four days,’ the Palestinian Resistance Movement said.
In their statements, both Hamas and President Ramaphosa commended the State of Qatar and the Arab Republic of Egypt for their mediation efforts to reach an agreement that will result in the release of hostages from both sides as well as the provision of relief aid to Gaza.
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According to Hamas, the conditions of the agreement, as reported by The Voice of the Cape, are as follows:
- A ceasefire was enacted by both parties, which means a cessation of all military actions by the occupation forces throughout the Gaza Strip.
- To allow the provision of humanitarian aid, relief supplies, medical assistance and fuel to all regions of the Gaza Strip.
- The release of 50 women and children among the occupation detainees in Gaza below the age of 19 was reciprocated by the liberation of 150 Palestinian women and children held in Israeli occupation prisons (also under the age of 19).
- The prohibition of air traffic in the south of Gaza for four days.
- The prohibition of air traffic in the north of Gaza for six hours daily, from 10am to 4pm.
- The truce will also ensure freedom of movement for people, particularly along Salah Al-Din Street, facilitating movement from the north to the south of the Strip.
‘This pause, which regrettably implies a possible resumption of conflict at some point, must be accompanied by tireless efforts to secure a durable political resolution of the decades-long challenge in the Middle East,’ Ramaphosa said.
Emphasising the need for sustained efforts to achieve a lasting political resolution, Ramaphosa urged collaboration between Palestine, Israel, regional nations and the international community to entrench the rights, peace and sustainable development of the Palestinian people as part of the two-state solution.
While the agreement was reached early on Wednesday, the temporary ceasefire and release of hostages will not happen before Friday, said Israel’s national security adviser and the U.S.
The starting time of the truce has yet to be officially announced.
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Also read:
‘It’s human against human’ – The Gift of the Givers assisting in Gaza
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