The Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation in South Africa, Zain Dangor, announced on Wednesday that "the country is set to issue a directive to the Israeli ambassador Eliav Belotserkovsky." He expressed hope in a text message to Reuters that "this action would take place today," without providing further details.
A few days ago, South Africa recalled its diplomats from Israel to assess its relationship amid rising civilian casualties due to the war with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement, "Hamas." Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor stated on Monday: "The Israeli ambassador is making several comments... without having discussed anything with any senior members of the South African government." She added, "I don’t know if this is because (we are) an African country and they do not respect us, but it is something we should not tolerate."
South Africa has long supported peace in the Middle East and has backed the Palestinians, whose plight has previously been compared to the country's experience during the apartheid era, which ended in 1994.
