Worried by the continued bombing of Gaza, the South African authorities have said that it would recall all its diplomats from Israel.
A top government official Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, told a press briefing that all diplomatic staff in Tel Aviv would be asked to return for consultations, without providing further details.
Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor told a press conference that, “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,” “We felt it important that we do signal the concern of South Africa while continuing to call for a comprehensive cessation (of hostilities)”.
Fighting has raged in the Gaza Strip for about a month since Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack over the border from the territory into Israel on October 7.
More than 1,400 people, most of them civilians, were killed in Israel during the attack, and more than 240 people were abducted.
In response, Israel has relentlessly bombarded Gaza and sent in ground troops, with the health ministry in the Hamas-run Palestinian territory saying more than 10,000
People have been killed
Pretoria has long been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause, with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party often linking it to its own struggle against apartheid.
