JOHANNESBURG -

The South African government has expressed concerns over Israel's continued occupation of "large parts of the West Bank", stressing that the development and construction of new settlements there is a "blatant example of violations of international law".

At the second meeting of heads of Palestinian missions in Africa, which was held in the capital, Pretoria, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor pointed out that "the Palestinian narrative taking place now evokes the experiences of South African history in the time of apartheid and oppression."

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Malki speaking at the conference (Al-Jazeera)

Apartheid country

Pandor showed that South Africans, with their past and the persecution they experienced firsthand, cannot stand idly by while another generation of Palestinians is left behind.

Pandor said her country's government believes that Israel should be classified as an apartheid state, stressing that South Africa's position on Palestine has always been "clear, consistent and close to the international community."

While the Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki, in his speech at the conference, indicated that "if there is any country that can absorb the suffering of Palestine and the struggle for freedom and independence, it is South Africa."

Justice for Sherine Abu Akleh

Pandor stated that she is in the process of forming a diplomatic committee for women in Africa and Europe, in cooperation with the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, to achieve justice in the case of the murder of Al-Jazeera journalist Sherine Abu Akleh.

She said in a special statement to Al Jazeera Net that the issue of the killing of journalist Abu Aqila cannot be left behind, and that women should not be silent about this issue, but rather that they should demand an independent investigation.

She explained that she believes that Shireen was brutally murdered, and added that she strongly supports freedom of expression, and that journalists should conduct their work in an atmosphere of freedom and safety.

South Africa considered the decision of the African Union to grant Israel observer status as a unilateral, unjust and shocking decision (European Union - Archive)

Israel Accountability

South Africa urged the international community last month to hold Israel accountable for its inhumane actions against the Palestinians, while last year it condemned the African Union granting the occupying country an observer status in the union, a move that was retracted earlier this year.

Minister Pandor had made it clear at the press conference that international human rights reports regarding what the Palestinians are exposed to are important in raising global awareness of their conditions, stressing that they provide credibility and support to a huge body of factual evidence, all of which point to “the fact that Israel is committing crimes of apartheid and oppression against the Palestinians.” ".

According to a recent report issued by Al Mezan Center for Human Rights, a civilian organization based in the Gaza Strip, approximately 5,418 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli military operations in the besieged Strip during the past 15 years, including 1,246 boys and girls, and 488 women.

And a United Nations commission of inquiry had recently indicated in its report to investigate violations in the occupied Palestinian territories, including occupied Jerusalem, that Israel is responsible for the grave violations of human rights there.

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strong ally

The first Palestinian embassy was opened in South Africa in 1995, marking the beginning of diplomatic relations between the two countries, while the South African government has, over the years, been a strong ally of the Palestinians, providing support for the cause at all levels, and condemning Israeli abuses in international forums.