Pretoria: The South African government has acknowledged recent developments aimed at achieving a ceasefire and peace for Gaza and the region. In a statement released on Saturday, the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) highlighted the potential of these developments to alleviate human suffering and build confidence.

According to South African Government News Agency, DIRCO welcomed Hamas’s decision to release all Israeli hostages and expressed readiness for further engagement. The department emphasized that this decision must be met with reciprocal actions by the State of Israel to serve as a confidence-building measure for de-escalation and trust restoration. DIRCO noted that such actions would represent a critical opportunity to uphold human dignity and lay the groundwork for a just and durable peace.

DIRCO further stressed the urgency of addressing the release of Palestinian political prisoners, including children, and those seized from the humanitarian flotilla. The South African government asserted that lasting peace cannot be achieved on the suppression of fundamental human rights.

The statement urged all parties to move beyond the cycle of confrontation and address the conflict’s root causes. DIRCO called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, alongside a definitive political process recognizing the Palestinian people’s rights to self-determination and statehood, in line with United Nations resolutions.

DIRCO reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to supporting genuine inclusive efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution, guided by a rules-based international order founded on international law.