As tensions between the two nations rise over Israel’s attack on Gaza, the South African Parliament has voted in favour of a motion demanding the closure of Israel’s embassy in Pretoria and the suspension of diplomatic relations.
The move is mostly symbolic because President Cyril Ramaphosa’s administration will decide whether to carry it out or not.
With 248 votes in favour and 91 against, the motion demanding the closure of the embassy and the suspension of all diplomatic ties until a ceasefire is negotiated was approved on Tuesday.
The ruling African National Congress supported the left-wing opposition group Economic Freedom Fighters in introducing the measure, but members of the centrist Democratic Alliance—which is primarily pro-Israel and has a white majority—opposed it.
According to Palestinian sources, Israel has murdered over 14,100 civilians in the Gaza Strip through air and ground attacks since October 7. Ramaphosa stated that his nation believes Israel is committed war crimes and genocide in the beleaguered region.
The unexpected attack on southern Israel by the Palestinian armed group Hamas, which the Israeli officials claimed claimed 1,200 lives, set off the Gaza War.
Following Israel’s announcement that it was pulling Ambassador Eli Belotserkovsky from Pretoria “for consultations,” a vote was held.
The African nation has long supported the Palestinian demand for statehood; it hasn’t had an ambassador in Israel since 2018.
Numerous Palestinian rights organisations have compared the Israeli occupation to the long-lasting apartheid system in South Africa.
Israel adamantly contests the claims made by an increasing number of human rights organisations that Israeli practises towards the Palestinians amount to the crime of apartheid in recent years.
On Tuesday, a virtual summit of the BRICS countries was also held in South Africa. Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are among the emerging economies that have demanded a “immediate, durable and sustained humanitarian truce leading to a cessation of hostilities” in Gaza.
“As individual countries, we have demonstrated our grave concern at the death and destruction in Gaza,” Ramaphosa said in a social media post on Tuesday.
“Let this meeting stand as a clarion call for us to combine our efforts and strengthen our actions to end this historical injustice. Let us work together to realize a just, peaceful and secure future for the people of both Palestine and Israel.”
