SA envoys call for unconditional ceasefire

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

“South Africa is calling on the protagonists 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 told journalists at Parliament.

Pahad and Skweyiya briefed President Jacob Zuma after meeting Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah and Foreign Minister Raid 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 two 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,” Pahad said.

Asked about local pressure on the government to expel Israel’s ambassador to South Africa, Pahad said this would be counter-productive and there had been no pressure from the Palestinian authorities to do so. Asked why they did not meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Skweyiya said they were told he was busy. – Sapa