In a significant development reflecting its commitment to the Palestinian cause, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the nation is actively contemplating cutting diplomatic relations with Israel. Ramaphosa emphasized that South Africa’s support for Palestine remains “irrevocable.”
“This matter is being actively examined, and we will provide the executive’s response to the National Assembly’s resolution at an appropriate time,” he informed lawmakers on Thursday.
The president’s comments were prompted by a non-binding resolution passed by Parliament last November, urging the government to terminate its ties with Israel in light of ongoing military operations in Gaza.
During the parliamentary session, Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters party, highlighted Brazil’s recent decision to recall its ambassador from Israel and pressed Ramaphosa for clarity on South Africa’s position.
In response, the president asserted that his government was neither “reluctant” nor “cowardly” in addressing the situation. “This issue is under serious consideration, and we are assessing broader factors involved,” Ramaphosa stated, specifically referencing Parliament’s call for the closure of the Israeli Embassy in Pretoria.
Malema underscored the urgency of the issue, declaring, “South Africans cannot coexist with murderers and rapists … (who) have killed women and children and seek to dismantle the Palestinian nation.”
In March 2023, the South African Parliament voted to downgrade its embassy in Israel to a liaison office, citing ongoing abuses against Palestinians.
Since establishing diplomatic relations with Palestine in 1995, shortly after the end of apartheid, South Africa has consistently criticized Israel for its treatment of Palestinians, particularly regarding the expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
In late 2023, South Africa brought its case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, accusing Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention amid its military actions in Gaza since October.
Several nations, including Türkiye, Nicaragua, Palestine, Spain, Mexico, Libya, and Colombia, have joined South Africa in this legal challenge, which began public hearings in January.
The ICJ has responded to the humanitarian crisis with multiple preliminary orders. In May, the court instructed Israel to cease its offensive in Rafah, marking the third time the 15-judge panel sought to mitigate the escalating death toll and alleviate suffering in Gaza.
The casualty count in the besieged enclave has tragically surpassed 42,400, with the majority of victims being women and children.