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South Africa is ready to join hands with the international community to help mediate in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, President Cyril Ramaphosa said Thursday.

Ramaphosa extended his condolences to the victims of the brutal conflict that has killed more than 1,300 in Israel and over 1,200 in Gaza, with thousands of others wounded on both sides.

“South Africa stands ready to work with the international community and to share our experience in mediation and conflict resolution as we have done on the continent and around the world,” Ramaphosa said.

He called for immediate and unconditional opening of humanitarian corridors, saying his country was gravely concerned by the atrocities committed against civilian populations.

Earlier, the United Nations highlighted the urgent need for humanitarian corridors and safe and unimpeded access passage for personnel.

Senior UN officials, including the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland, are also conducting engagements with key international and regional partners.

Wennesland said he held “productive meetings” on Wednesday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and other senior officials.

He said the priority is to end the ongoing devastating violence, preventing further loss of civilian life and any expansion of the current conflict.