SA views on the escalating Israel-Iran tensions

AS THE conflict between the State of Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran entered its fifth day of air strikes on Tuesday, South Africans have shared their views on the current situation.

- NADIA KHAN

According to BBC News, Israel and Iran have been exchanging more strikes as the conflict between the two countries, which began on Friday, intensified.

It started when Israel attacked nuclear and military sites in Iran, and then Iran retaliated with aerial attacks targeting Israel.

More than 220 people have been killed in Israeli strikes so far, according to Iran's health ministry, while Israel says Iranian attacks have killed 24 people, the news website reported.

Dr Faisal Suliman, chairperson of the South African Muslim Network, said the “unprovoked, unnecessary, and unjustified” unilateral attack on Iran was not surprising.

“Since its creation of an exclusive country called Israel in 1948, Zionists have been on a campaign to ethnically-cleanse Palestinians from their homeland, as well as ensure that all of their Arab neighbours become unstable, so that there is no competition or reciprocal attacks on Israel.

“To a large extent, Israel has succeeded in destabilising Lebanon and Syria, undermining Jordan, and neutralising Saudi Arabia. Israel was also instrumental in ensuring the invasion and destabilisation of Iraq and Libya. Therefore, the only possible country left for it to destroy, destabilise and neutralise is Iran,” he said.

Suliman said Iran, in its long history, had never invaded any of its neighbours or posed a threat.

“The same cannot be said for Israel. The attack proves that Israel has no regard for international law, humanity, or for the kind of death and destruction it has brought on. Naturally, Iran has had no choice but to retaliate.