South Africa has denounced the bombing of Lebanon as a serious breach of territorial sovereignty and international humanitarian law.
This is after Israel hit central Beirut on Thursday last week, reportedly killing 22 civilians and injuring over 117 more, in the deadliest attack on the city centre since the war against Lebanon began.
According to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the strikes hit a densely packed residential neighbourhood of apartment buildings and small shops in the heart of the Lebanese capital.
“Israel’s bombing of Lebanon is a serious violation of the territory of a sovereign state and a grave violation of international law. The international community cannot afford to remain indifferent,” the department’s statement read.
Meanwhile, the department said Israel launched ground incursions into southern Lebanon on 30 September 2024, where 10 400 peacekeepers were deployed under the command of a Spanish general.
Citing the official Lebanese figures, DIRCO stated that nearly 2 000 people have been killed in the country since October 2023, including more than 1 000 since the start of Israeli strikes in the south and east of its territory, as well as in the southern suburbs of Beirut.
The department said the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was breaching the blue line constantly.
A senior United Nations (UN) official told the UN Security Council that the safety of 10 400 UN peacekeepers in southern Lebanon was “increasingly in jeopardy” with Israeli forces having deliberately fired on their positions.
“South Africa underscores that attacks on peacekeepers are a grave violation of international humanitarian law.”
Meanwhile, the department said Israel continued to violate international humanitarian law with impunity in Gaza.
“It is imperative that the international community and the UN Security Council be consistent with the defence of international law and international humanitarian law.
“South Africa calls for an immediate end to the bombing campaign as the longer the war continues, the higher the risk that the region will descend into a major military conflagration, presenting a grave threat to international peace and security.” – SAnews.gov.za
