"It is interesting that, as we speak, both many countries in the Global South, as well as in the Global North, have risen to actually join us in the work that we’re doing, to expose the atrocities and the genocide that is happening in Palestine, and to expose the role of apartheid Israel, including continually declaring Israel as an apartheid state. Israel would deny that it’s committing genocide. We will continue to defend the rights of Palestinians and Lebanese people, to defend themselves against the aggression by Israel, which is abetted by the US - Bhengu-Motsiri concluded.

Addressing calls to shut down the Israeli embassy in South Africa, Bhengu-Motsiri acknowledged the popular demand for its closure. While she expressed the ANC’s support for the move, she deferred the matter to the South African government, which she said must act within established diplomatic protocols.

The ANC spokeswoman said there was an urgent need for peace, and that the search for peace “must be uppermost in our minds and in the minds of all of our world leaders.” She called for international efforts to push Israel toward the negotiating table, a step that she claims Israel has consistently rejected."