APA-Pretoria (South Africa) Some 19 South African nationals fleeing the resumption of the fierce Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip have been evacuated through the Rafah Crossing into Egypt for their onward journey home, the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation has said in Pretoria.
“The evacuated South Africans, comprising six males and 13 females, have now arrived safely in Cairo and are enroute to South Africa,” the ministry said in a statement on Monday.
Israeli authorities are said to have approved the evacuation of the South Africans from the war zone into Egypt, according to the ministry.
“South Africa extends its gratitude to the government of Egypt for granting the evacuated foreign nationals’ safe passage through the Rafah Crossing into its country,” it added.
The evacuation has taken place at a time the Israeli government had indicated that it intended to extend its indiscriminate, deadly bombings of the people of Gaza from the air, sea and ground, the ministry said.
“The statements from Israeli leaders appear impervious to the global calls for an immediate end to the killing of Palestinian civilians,” the ministry added.
It said South Africa would like to see an immediate and permanent ceasefire and “resumption of talks that will end the violence arising from the continued belligerent occupation — and lays the basis for a just and lasting solution.”
NM/jn/APA