The government of South Africa recalled its ambassador and diplomatic mission to Israel on Monday, calling the bombardment of the Gaza Strip a “genocide.”
It also threatened to take action against the Israeli ambassador to South Africa for remarks he made recently regarding the African nation’s stance on the Israel-Hamas war, though no further information was provided.
The war began on October 7, when Hamas, a militant Palestinian organization, attacked Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,400 people. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has claimed the lives of over 10,000 Palestinians.
“The South African government has decided to withdraw all its diplomats in Tel Aviv for consultation,” said minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni. She added the cabinet noted the “disparaging remarks of the Israeli ambassador to South Africa about those who are opposing the atrocities and genocide of the Israeli government” and that the department of international relations has been instructed to “take the necessary measures within the diplomatic channels and protocols to deal with (his) conduct.”
Ntshavheni also said the position of the Israeli ambassador in the country was “untenable.”
The Israeli ambassador should be expelled, according to pro-Palestinian demonstrators who have been holding protests outside the Israeli and U.S. embassies in Cape Town and Pretoria.
International relations minister Naledi Pandor, who hosted her counterpart from Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, on Monday, announced that South African officials would be called back from Tel Aviv to provide the government with a comprehensive briefing about the situation in the region.
“We need to have this engagement with our officials because we are extremely concerned at the continued killing of children and innocent civilians in the Palestinian territory and we believe the nature of response by Israel has become one of collective punishment,” said Pandor.
Pandor stated that she had talked with her counterpart from Ukraine about deepening bilateral ties, citing as an example the talks at least seven African leaders had earlier this year to suggest a peace plan while in Moscow and Kyiv.
“We are one of the few countries around the regions of the world that are able to speak to both Ukraine, as well as Russia.”
The African National Congress, the dominant party in South Africa and a party with strong ties to Palestine, has called for a quick cease-fire in Gaza and the entry of humanitarian aid into the heavily bombed territory.
Along with Chile, Colombia, and Honduras, South Africa is one of the nations who have called back their ambassadors to Israel in protest of the military actions in Gaza. Bolivia broke off diplomatic relations with the nation.
