SA withdraws diplomats from Tel Aviv amid Hamas war

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SA withdraws diplomats from Tel Aviv amid Hamas war

In light of the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the South African government has evacuated all of its diplomats from Tel Aviv.

At Monday’s post-cabinet media briefing, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni confirmed the diplomatic action.

Since October 7, when Hamas militants broke through the border and killed 1,400 people while kidnapping over 240 more, Israel has been at war with Gaza, according to Israeli officials.

The health ministry in the Palestinian territory controlled by Hamas reports that 9,770 people have died as a result of Israel’s ceaseless bombardment of the Gaza Strip and the deployment of ground forces, with women and children making up the majority of the casualties.

The Palestinian government has received the backing and solidarity of the South African government, which also denounces the killing of civilians on both sides.

Pro-Palestine organizations have staged pickets in front of the Israeli embassy in Pretoria, demanding the dismissal of Eliav Belotserkovsky, the Israeli ambassador to South Africa.

According to Ntshavheni, the South African government made the decision to send all of its ambassadors to Israel for talks.

According to Ntshavheni, the government was alarmed by Eliav Belotserkovsky’s actions and has since given the Department of International Relations and Cooperation the go-ahead to take appropriate action.

This is true even though Israel’s previous ambassadors to South Africa strongly objected to the action, making it apparent that the Israeli government’s actions were identical to and a continuation of apartheid.

 Ntshavheni emphasised that this was a serious signal from the South African government.