This Tuesday, November 21, the National Assembly of the African country voted to break off bilateral relations with Israel and close its embassy in the country until a ceasefire is concluded in the Gaza Strip. Cyril Ramaphosa’s government has repeatedly criticized Israeli actions against Palestinian civilians. In the country, the Palestinian issue is reminiscent of the “apartheid” that South Africans faced between 1948 and 1994.
Tensions between South Africa and Israel are increasing. This Tuesday, Israel decided to summon its ambassador to the African country for “consultations,” while South Africa advocated the closure of its embassy in the Jewish-majority country and the permanent severance of diplomatic relations – pending a ceasefire.
The reason is none other than Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip, which President Cyril Ramaphosa has criticized since the conflict with Hamas began on October 7, in which more than 14,100 Palestinians have already died.
“Following recent statements from South Africa, the Israeli ambassador in Pretoria has been recalled to Jerusalem for consultations,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry published in X on Monday evening.
Pro-Palestinian supporters write the names of lives lost in the war as they protest outside Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, November 21, 2023. © Nardus Engelbrecht / AP
The National Assembly supported severing relations with Israel with 248 votes in favor and 91 against. However, Ramaphosa’s government is the one that has the final say on whether this measure will be applied or not. However, their position on this issue seems to be quite clear, at least so far.
During a virtual summit of the BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – chaired by the South African president, the group condemned attacks on civilians in Palestine and Israel. Many even went so far as to call the forced displacement of Palestinians inside or outside Gaza a “war crime.”
“We condemn any kind of individual or mass forcible relocation and deportation of Palestinians from their own land (…). The forcible relocation and deportation of Palestinians, whether within the Gaza Strip or to neighboring countries, constitute serious violations of the Geneva Conventions and war crimes “violations of international humanitarian law,” Ramaphosa noted.
Pemmy Majodina, leader of the ruling African National Congress, addresses members of Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023. © Nardus Engelbrecht / AP
It is not the first time that the South African head of state has made a request of this kind. Last week, South Africa joined four other countries in calling on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Israel’s “war crimes” in Gaza, which Ramaphosa described as “genocide”. According to the government of the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, at least 5,840 minors have already died in attacks by the Israeli army in the enclave.
On Monday, South African Presidential Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni went one step further. He said it would be a “complete failure” of the court not to launch an ICC investigation into Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Earlier this month, South Africa recalled its ambassador to Israel and withdrew all of its diplomatic staff.
The situation of the Palestinian people is reopening the wounds of apartheid
South Africa’s position is not new; the country in the south of the continent has in the past defended the so-called Palestinian cause. And the issue triggers great sensitivity among South Africans because it brings back memories of their own struggle against segregation during apartheid.
“As a people with our own painful history of discrimination, racism and prejudice, we remember our personal duty to be tolerant and respectful of others,” Ramaphosa said in this context.
As people with our own painful history of discrimination, racism and prejudice, we remember our personal duty to be tolerant and respectful of others.
Let us encourage dialogue and meaningful engagement so that we as South Africans can work together to support the… pic.twitter.com/ChRrEzcaq4
– Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) November 20, 2023
South African diplomats, over the decades in which this conflict has been active, have repeatedly compared the similarity between the situation of Palestinians under “Israeli occupation” and the situation of South Africans who experienced “apartheid” between 1948 and 1994.
“The Palestinian narrative evokes experiences from South Africa’s own history of racial segregation and oppression. (…) As oppressed South Africans, we experience first-hand the impact of racial inequality, discrimination and denial, and we cannot stand idly by as another generation of Palestinians is left behind,” said Naledi Pandor, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, on July 26, 2022, long before the Hamas attack on October 7.
He also condemned the death of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh at the hands of the Israeli army and vowed to advocate for the rights of the Palestinian people at the United Nations.
Contrasting positions in Africa
Not everyone in Africa has followed the same path as South Africa. Kenya, Zambia, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo have joined Israel’s position. Israel has managed to gain a very important influence in the region, among other things by offering cutting-edge technology or military assistance.
Meanwhile, other countries such as Algeria have spoken out in favor of the Palestinian population. “Israel is committing systematic genocide against defenseless civilians in the occupied Palestinian territories,” noted Abdelmadjid Tebboune, President of Algeria, on October 16.
In fact, Algeria was the first country after Iran to express support for the Palestinian territories. The Muslim majority and Islam as a common religion strengthen the ties between the two countries.
Although these two factors do not always equate to support. A clear case is Egypt, which, despite being a neighboring country and sharing religion and many cultural characteristics with the Palestinian territories, has for decades found itself in a “middle” position between support for Israel and Palestinian denunciation.
With EFE, AP and local media