The Ruling Party in South Africa Supports Proposal to Close the Israeli Embassy

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa confirmed on Thursday that it "will support a parliamentary proposal calling for the closure of the Israeli embassy in the country." It stated: "The ANC will approve a parliamentary proposal urging the government to close the Israeli embassy in South Africa and suspend all diplomatic relations with Israel until it agrees to a ceasefire." The proposal is largely symbolic, as it would ultimately be up to President Cyril Ramaphosa's government to implement it. However, Ramaphosa and senior officials in the Foreign Ministry have publicly criticized Israeli leadership during its military campaign against Hamas and called for the International Criminal Court to investigate potential war crimes. The proposal is set to be presented later on Thursday by the leftist party Economic Freedom Fighters, which also calls for suspending all diplomatic ties with Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian people amid the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.