SA envoys call for ceasefire in Gaza

SOUTH AFRICA’S two special envoys to the Middle East, Aziz Pahad and Zola Skweyiya, called for an unconditional ceasefire in Gaza yesterday before they headed to Qatar to meet Hamas.

“South Africa is calling on the protagonists in the conflict to conclude an immediate and unconditional ceasefire that will allow the people of Gaza to return to their homes and rebuild their shattered lives,” Skweyiya said in Parliament.

Pahad and Skweyiya briefed President Jacob Zuma after meeting Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and Foreign Minister Riad Malki, and Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzachi Hanegbi.

Pahad termed the talks “extensive”, saying they laid the ground for further talks with Israel and Palestine in the near future.

The pair briefly returned to South Africa to consult with Zuma before embarking on a fact-finding mission to Egypt, Qatar, Iran, and Saudi Arabia.

“The first visit is a stepping stone to a second visit and we will have to visit other countries in the region,” he said.

“Our task is to establish which of the neighbouring countries are assisting the process or adding to the escalating conflict “

Asked about local pressure on the government to expel Israel’s ambassador to South Africa, Pahad said this would be counterproductive and there had been no pressure from the Palestinian authorities to do so.

“This is a time when you need greater interaction with all the parties to ensure that we achieve a long-lasting solution.

“I must report that nobody from the Palestinians called on us to break relations or recall our ambassador.

“In fact they called on us to intensify our interaction given the gravity of the situation,” he said.