South Africa recalls diplomats from TelAviv, flays Israel’s attacks on civilians

The South African government has joined the growing lists of countries to recall their representatives to TelAviv as Israel continues what Pretoria described as collective punishment. The move is coming barely 24 hours after Chad took a similar step. With this development, two African countries have now recalled their envoys to TelAviv…

South Africa says it has recalled its envoys from TelAviv in response to Israel’s intensified air strikes on Gaza.

The bombardment over the weekend was one of Israel’s heaviest since the war began on 7 October.

Gaza City’s Al-Shifa hospital was caught in the onslaught as about 200 people were killed by the Israeli airstrikes.

While reacting, the South African government, which has long been a staunch supporter of the Palestinian struggle, condemned Israel for the collective punishment on innocent civilians.

Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, in a press briefing, explained that South Africa was withdrawing its diplomats, saying: “We are… extremely concerned at the continued killing of children and innocent civilians in the Palestinian territories and we believe the nature of response by Israel has become one of collective punishment.

She added that the recall of the diplomats was “normal practice”, stressing that the envoys would give a “full briefing” to the government. After this, the government will decide whether it can be of assistance or if a “continued relationship is actually able to be sustained”, Ms Pandor said.

South Africa is now the second African country to recall its diplomats from Israel after Chad. Outside Africa, Turkey, Chile, Bahrain, Honduras, Colombia, and Jordan have taken a similar step.

More than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed while several others have been severely wounded since the war began in October.