The South African lawmakers voted on Tuesday to shutter the Israeli embassy in Pretoria and suspend all diplomatic ties until a ceasefire is negotiated as bombardment continues on Palestinains in Gaza, Reuters reported.
Currently, the death toll in Gaza is more than 13,000, as per the Palestinian health ministry. In a statement, the Gaza-based government media office said the death toll includes 5,600 children and 3,550 women.
While the resolution holds substantial symbolic weight, the decision to implement it rests with President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government. A spokesperson for the presidency emphasised that President Ramaphosa acknowledges and appreciates parliament’s guidance on South Africa’s diplomatic relations with Israel, clarifying that the matter falls under the jurisdiction of the national executive.
President Ramaphosa and senior foreign ministry officials have vocally criticised Israel’s leadership, calling for an investigation by the International Criminal Court into potential war crimes committed during its military campaign against palestinians in densely populated Gaza.
The Israeli embassy, in response, has not provided an immediate comment on the situation, Reuters reported.
The parliamentary resolution, initially proposed by the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, gained widespread support, adopted by a resounding 248-91 margin on Tuesday.
The EFF’s motion, presented in solidarity with the Palestinian people amid the Gaza genocide, aligns with South Africa’s longstanding support for the Palestinian cause.
The resolution not only calls for the closure of the Israeli embassy but also advocates for a diplomatic suspension until Israel commits to a UN-facilitated negotiation process leading to a just, sustainable, and lasting peace — a development that underscores South Africa’s diplomatic stance dating back to the presidency of Nelson Mandela in 1994.
