PRETORIA, Tuesday, November 21, 2023 (WAFA) – In a largely symbolic move and in response to Israel’s war of genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, the South African parliament voted today by 248 in favor to 91 against to close the Israeli embassy in Pretoria and to suspend diplomatic ties with Israel.

Implementation of the action, however, remains up to President Cyril Ramaphosa‘s government.

On November 6, South Africa recalled all its diplomats to Tel Aviv for consultations due to the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

South Africa also submitted a request to the International Criminal Court in The Hague to investigate war crimes committed by Israel, the occupying power, in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

President Ramaphosa said his country believes that Israel is committing war crimes and genocide in Gaza, where thousands of Palestinians have been killed and hospitals and public infrastructure have been destroyed.

“In South Africa, we, along with a number of other countries around the world, have referred these entire actions of the Israeli government to the International Criminal Court, because we believe that war crimes are being committed there, and they warrant an investigation by the court,” he said.

South African cities have witnessed massive demonstrations denouncing the Israeli aggression and its crimes of genocide against the Gaza Strip.

T.R.