Israel-Gaza crisis: ANC lauds Pretoria's decision to withdraw country's diplomats from Israel

Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) – South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Tuesday saluted the government on its decision to withdraw the country’s diplomats from Israel.

It is also calling for Israel’s ambassador to South Africa Eliav Belotserkovsky to be expelled.

ANC spokesperson Obed Bapela said the ambassador's “behaviour and conduct has been worrying…he has to go”. The diplomat has come under fire for his comments on the Gaza crisis.

ANC MP Nkosi Mandela, from Royal House of Mandela, said while they welcomed the recalling of South African diplomats from “apartheid Israel”, more action was needed.

“We will keep mobilising South Africans until the apartheid Israel ambassador is expelled and all diplomatic ties with apartheid Israel are cut. We appeal to them to follow this up with expelling the apartheid Israeli ambassador and cutting all diplomatic ties in light of the flagrant disregard for international law, basic humanity and regard for the value of human life as outlined in the Geneva Convention,” Mandela said.

The South African Government last week called for Israel to be prosecuted for unlawful attacks on children and urged the deployment of a rapid protection force to protect civilians in Palestine.

The Department of International Relations & Co-Operation (DIRCO) warned that Israel’s war against Hamas militants could spark a genocide.

“It is estimated that over 80 families have been wiped out by Israeli armed action over the last three weeks. The number of non-combatants killed, especially the number of children killed, requires the world to show that it is serious about global accountability,” the department said.

-0- PANA CU/MA 7Nov2023