Israeli attacks 'slaughter'

2009-01-06 21:41

Johannesburg - The Palestinian ambassador to South Africa on Tuesday described Israeli attacks on Gaza as a "slaughter" of the innocents.

His Excellency Ali Hamiya told journalists at a press briefing at Luthuli House in Johannesburg his description stemmed from his opinion that the attacks in Gaza were war crimes.

"There is no political or humanitarian ground for the attacks," he said.

He said most of those affected were innocent, with about 75% being women and children.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe, who hosted the ambassador, said it was clear to the ANC that as long as Israel continued to occupy land rightfully belonging to Palestinian people, there would not be a lasting solution to the conflict in that region.

"The ANC calls upon South Africans to give all possible humanitarian aid to the suffering people of Gaza.

"We call on our government to co-ordinate the humanitarian aid and arrange for immediate transport of this aid to the people of Gaza," Mantashe said.

- SAPA