South Africa has condemned Israel's bombing of Lebanon as a "grave violation of international law."
JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- South Africa has condemned Israel's bombing of Lebanon as a "grave violation of international law."
"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 South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) said in a statement issued late Monday.
Citing official Lebanese figures, the South African foreign ministry said nearly 2,000 people have been killed in Lebanon since October 2023, including more than 1,000 since the start of Israeli strikes in the south and east of the country, as well as in the southern suburbs of Beirut, the capital of Lebanon.
"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, posing a grave threat to international peace and security," it added.
In the statement, DIRCO also said Israel launched ground incursions into southern Lebanon on Sept. 30, 2024, where 10,400 peacekeepers were deployed.
"The IDF (Israel Defense Forces) is breaching the blue line constantly," said the department. "South Africa underscores that attacks on peacekeepers are 'a grave violation of international humanitarian law.'"
Meanwhile, DIRCO said Israel continues to violate international humanitarian law with impunity in Gaza.
Therefore, "it is imperative that the international community and the UN Security Council be consistent with the defense of international law and international humanitarian law," it added. ■
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