5 August 2020, Johannesburg

The South African Communist Party expresses heartfelt condolences to the people of Lebanon. We offer our full support to this nation as it unites to manage the pain and trauma caused by the series of explosions that rocked the city of Beirut on the evening of Tuesday, 4 August 2020. So far at least 100 people were killed and thousands were injured. The explosions come when Lebanon is addressing its political challenges and is experiencing a severe economic challenge. The destruction of the primary harbour in Beirut will unfortunately dent the country’s economy further. What happened must be thoroughly investigated.

The explosions occurred within less than 24 hours after the apartheid Israeli regime launched air strikes on southern Syria, purportedly aimed at Hezbollah, and following threats by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to escalate its attacks on Hezbollah (which forms part of the Lebanese governing coalition).

The SACP further calls upon the Zionist Israel to stop its aggression in the Middle East. The apartheid Israeli regime has been continually violating Lebanese airspace over the past few months and has increased the number of its forces on its northern frontier where it borders Lebanon and Syria. The Israeli regime is continues to persecute the people of Syria and Palestine—and also annex their land and occupies it.

The working-class and poor suffer most during times of political turmoil and the constant aggression by the apartheid Israel regime diverts attention from much-needed development in the Middle East region.

We appeal for compassion and empathy as this war-ravaged region seeks recovery.

ISSUED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNIST PARTY | SACP
EST. 1921 AS THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF SOUTH AFRICA | CPSA

Dr Alex Mohubetswane Mashilo
Central Committee Member for Media & Communications

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