ISRAEL is planning to launch a ground offensive in Gaza after the surprise attack by Hamas on Sunday, 8 October.
Israel has formally declared war on the Palestinian militant group Hamas after more than 700 people were killed in the unprecedented retaliation strike. The death toll on both sides continues to rise.
Daily Sun took to the streets to find out what South Africans have to say about the ongoing conflict:
Mzansi, an ally of Palestine, has expressed its grave concern over the recent devastating escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco) said in a statement: "The new conflagration has arisen from the continued illegal occupation of Palestine land, continued settlement expansion, desecration of the Al Aqsa Mosque and Christian holy sites, and ongoing oppression of the Palestinian people.
"The region is in desperate need of a credible peace process that delivers on the calls of a plethora of previous UN resolutions for a two-state solution and a just and comprehensive peace between Israel and Palestine.
"Violence, killings, imprisonment, forced removals, illegal settlements, and the continued siege of Gaza are not conducive to resolving the conflict. Urgent attention must be given to resolving the final status issues such as borders, the status of Jerusalem, the release of political prisoners, and the right of return.
"No real and lasting peace in Israel, Palestine, and the region is possible in the absence of a just and comprehensive resolution of the conflict. Israelis, Palestinians, and the region do not stand to gain anything from escalated tensions, increased violence, growing instability, and a continued and protracted violent conflict.
"South Africa therefore calls on all sides to seize the opportunity for peace as opposed to violence, and for the international community to actively rise on the side of its own international resolutions and establish a credible peace process. South Africa stands ready to share its experience in mediation and conflict resolution, as it has done on the continent and around the world."
