PRETORIA, November 21. /TASS/. South Africa calls for the United Nations Rapid Deployment Forces’ presence in Palestine in order to monitor the cessation of hostilities, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Tuesday.

"As South Africa, we call for… the deployment of a UN Rapid Deployment Force in Palestine, with a mandate to monitor the cessation of hostilities and protect civilians," Ramaphosa said addressing an extraordinary summit of the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) on the situation in the Middle East.

According to Ramaphosa, South Africa also calls for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, the opening of humanitarian corridors and the release of all civilian hostages.

Moreover, Ramaphosa said, South Africa calls on "all countries to exercise restraint and to desist from fueling this conflict, including by ceasing the supply of weapons to the parties."

Tensions in the Middle East flared up again on October 7 after militants from the Palestinian group Hamas launched an incursion into Israeli territory from the Gaza Strip. Hamas described its attack as a response to the aggressive actions of Israeli authorities against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

Israel announced a total blockade of Gaza and launched ground operations in the enclave, also carrying out air strikes on targets in the Strip, as well as on certain areas in Lebanon and Syria. Clashes are also taking place in the West Bank.