By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider
Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, delivered an address at the United Nations (UN) high-level international conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, on the 29th of July 2025.
As the ongoing turmoil continues in the state of Palestine due to Israel’s occupation has caused many leaders to speak out against how this war has deeply affected the citizens of Palestine and has even regarded this occupation as apartheid and an act of genocide.
For almost two years the destruction of Gaza continues to become more and more problematic, as there has been recent reports that Israel has even cut food supplies from entering Gaza leaving its citizens in starvation.
At the UN conference, Minister Lamola has taken to address practical measures by way of a two-state solution as South Africa continues to speak out against the civil unrest in Gaza.
“Firstly, all states must urgently recognise Palestinian statehood, and the territorial integrity and contiguity of Palestine should be established and respected. In this regard South Africa welcomes the intentions of recognition of the state of Palestine by France as an important step towards achieving a two-state solution.” said Minister Lamola in his address.
“Secondly, there cannot be peace while the very existence of the Palestinian people is being threatened by Israel’s continued genocidal actions in Gaza and the forced displacement of Palestinians in the West Bank. This is part of a systematic pattern of injustices and oppression of Palestinians since the adoption of resolution 181 and the subsequent Nakba in 1948. These actions must be condemned and the UN Security Council must act to protect the Palestinian people in whole and in part.” he continued to explain.
“Thirdly, preserving the viability of the two-state solution must include promoting safeguards such as the full respect for International Law, including international humanitarian law and human rights law. It is necessary for the immediate and full implementation of resolutions of the United Nations and the provisional measures, as well as advisory opinions of the international Court of Justice.” Minister Lamola added.
Minister Lamola not only called out Israel to adhere to international law, but asked all nations to abide as well, he mentioned they must all maintain the sanctity of international law. Mr Lamola expressed that an immediate ceasefire must be implemented in order to establish a peaceful process towards a two-state solution. He mentioned that this conference is in the global spotlight and that this will be critical in how to constructively solve this conflict in a peaceful manner.
“Global attention is on this conference. There is an expectation that we will deliver an effective response to the destruction of an entire population and a peaceful path for preserving the prospect of a viable Palestinian state existing side by side with the state of Israel in Peace and Security. This expectation is not misplaced, and it could not be higher.”
Other representatives from different nations also had the opportunity to give an address such as, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government, Jun Khai, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Spain, Jose Manuel Albares, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Badr Ahmed and Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs for Turkey, Nuh Yilmaz.
“The death distribution mechanism adopted by the occupying power to satiate the hungry has become an embodiment of the futility of international efforts in this dark phase of human history. I believe that this conference today is not only for the sake of coordinating international positions to address the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory including Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem.” said Minister Ahmed in his address.
“But in fact it goes beyond that to achieve great things; one-the collective efforts to address the root causes of this crisis through revival of the two-state solution as the only means to end the conflict and to establish regional security.” he added
“It is no longer acceptable to hide behind silence which always works against the victims. That is why Spain recognized the state of Palestine in May 2024 and proposed the idea of an international conference to begin laying the foundations for the two-state solution.” said Minister of Foreign Affairs for Spain, Jose Manuel Albares who reaffirmed that Spain recognizes Palestine as a state.