South Africa Cuts Ties With Israel Over Gaza ‘genocide’
South Africa has recalled its ambassador and diplomatic staff from Israel, accusing it of committing genocide in its ongoing war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The move came after the Israeli ambassador to South Africa made “disparaging remarks” about the African country’s position on the conflict, which the South African government said was “untenable”.
The war, which started on Oct. 7 after Hamas fired rockets at Israel, has killed more than 10,000 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis, according to the Hamas-run health ministry and the Israeli military.
South Africa’s minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced the decision to withdraw the diplomats from Tel Aviv on Monday, saying the cabinet condemned the “atrocities and genocide” of the Israeli government.
She said the department of international relations had been instructed to “take the necessary measures” to deal with the conduct of the Israeli ambassador, whose name was not disclosed.
She did not give any details about what the ambassador had said, but pro-Palestinian protesters in South Africa have demanded his expulsion.
The protesters have been holding rallies outside the U.S. Consulate in Johannesburg and the Israeli embassies in Pretoria and Cape Town, calling for an end to the Israeli aggression and the U.S. support for it.
South Africa’s international relations minister Naledi Pandor, who met with her Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba on Monday, said the South African officials would be briefed by the government on the situation in the region.
She said the government was “extremely concerned” about the “continued killing of children and innocent civilians” in the Palestinian territory and believed that Israel’s response was “one of collective punishment”.
South Africa has a history of supporting the Palestinian cause and has often criticized Israel’s occupation and settlement policies.
The country was one of the first to recognize the state of Palestine in 1994 and has been a vocal advocate for a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders.
South Africa’s decision to sever ties with Israel follows similar moves by other countries, such as Turkey, Venezuela, Bolivia and Iran, in protest of the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
The war has also sparked widespread condemnation from the international community, human rights groups and civil society organizations, who have accused both sides of violating international law and humanitarian norms.
The UN Security Council has failed to adopt a resolution to end the hostilities, due to the veto power of the U.S., Israel’s main ally and arms supplier.
The U.S. has said it supports Israel’s right to self-defense, but has also urged it to do more to avoid civilian casualties and to facilitate humanitarian access to Gaza.
The U.S. has also been involved in diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire, along with Egypt, Qatar and other regional actors.
However, the prospects of a truce remain elusive, as both sides have rejected each other’s conditions and have vowed to continue fighting until their goals are achieved.
Hamas, which controls Gaza, has said it will not stop firing rockets until Israel lifts its blockade on the coastal enclave, which has been in place since 2007.
Israel, which considers Hamas a terrorist organization, has said it will not stop its military campaign until it destroys Hamas’ tunnel network and rocket arsenal, which it says pose a threat to its security.
