At the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, President Cyril Ramaphosa urged global leaders to take decisive action to alleviate Palestinian suffering amid the ongoing Gaza war. He described the violence against Palestinians as a continuation of apartheid, emphasizing, “We, South Africans, know what apartheid looks like. We lived through it. We will not remain silent.”
Since October, Israel’s military incursions have reportedly resulted in over 41,000 Palestinian deaths, including many women and children, according to Palestinian authorities. Nations like Turkey are advocating for UN sanctions against Israel.
In Lebanon, the death toll from recent Israeli airstrikes targeting Hezbollah militants has risen to 564. Palestinian officials reported new strikes in Gaza that killed at least two dozen more people. Israel’s military has vowed to do “whatever is necessary” to push Hezbollah away from its border, leading to an escalation in violence and airstrikes.
The situation has prompted a mass exodus from southern Lebanon, with thousands fleeing towards Beirut amid fears of further conflict. The toll on Lebanon is severe, following previous attacks that crippled communication networks, which the country attributes to Israel, though Israel has not confirmed responsibility. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has continued to retaliate with projectile attacks on Israel.
