that Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005 and it is not an occupier but Hamas is.

The cause of the current conflict can be found in the opening paragraph of the Hamas Covenant which says and I quote:

Israel will exist and continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it.

Article 7 of the Hamas covenant states that and I quote:

The day of judgement would not come until the Muslims fought and kill the Jews. This is not a call for peace, but a call for genocide. More chilling are the Hamas chants, 'First the people of the Saturday - Jews, then the people of the Sunday - Christians.

The ACDP takes no pleasure in the death of the innocent and calls on both sides of this war to come together to the table of peace... [Time Expired.] I thank you. Mr N L S KWANKWA: House Chair, the UDMsupports the Minister's call for an immediate cessation of all hostilities between Israel and Palestine in order to create an environment that is conducive for dialogue to occur. The fact is that the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict which began in the mid-20th century is one of the world's longest continuing conflict. The international community must bear part of the blame and responsibility for allowing this conflict to continue for as long as it has, allowing and accepting the longest occupation in modern history.

The conflict is characterised, as we know now and we have seen, by war crimes from the intentional attacks on innocent women and children, innocent civilians and collective punishment of innocent people. For the actions of Hamas, the racist world unfortunately, which made the loudest noise during the war between Russia and Ukraine has conveniently and decided to turn a blind eye to the merciless murder of women and children who are innocent simply because they are of a different colour. As democratic countries around the world we have failed the brutalised civilians in Gaza.

The people are denied the most basic needs such as food, water and health services while you so- called democrats and human rights activists ... [Inaudible.] ... conveniently turn a blind eye to what we consider to be a serious human rights violation of human race. In the face of the murder of Palestinians, in fact, the Palestinians will in the end, borrowing the words of Martin Luther King Junior when he said that they will not remember the words of their enemies but the silence of their friends.

Throughout in history women and children have consistently borne the brunt of the consequences of war suffering long- term hardships. Israel's war in Gaza exemplifies this tragic reality as it continues to take a heavy toll on the lives of women and children with each passing day. We have said that while this occurs, the United Nations Security Council continues to bicker about insignificant issues while people are losing lives. Weare calling not only on the South African government but would like to make a clarion call to continental leaders to do exactly what they did in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, maybe, trying to initiate its own independent mediation effort because the United States is discredited as a mediator.

The United States can't be arming Israel and giving aid to Israel and then pretend and parade on television, TV, this they are trying to actually call for an immediate ceasefire which is unadulterated claptrap. They think we are stupid. They are saying fight on the one hand and on the other they are parading in front of cameras posturing for the public saying that they are negotiating for a ceasefire and whatever they want to call it. In actual fact, they are supporting war because they are benefiting in their industry through war.