South Africa has expelled Israel’s top diplomat in Pretoria, sharply escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries and prompting swift retaliatory action from Israel.
The South African government announced the expulsion on Monday, citing what it described as Israel’s continued conduct in Gaza and its disregard for international law. Officials said the decision was consistent with Pretoria’s long-standing foreign policy stance in support of Palestinian self-determination and human rights.
In response, Israel moved quickly to expel South Africa’s senior diplomatic representative, calling Pretoria’s action “hostile” and politically motivated. Israel’s foreign ministry said the expulsion undermines diplomatic engagement and accused South Africa of adopting a one-sided position in the Middle East conflict.
The diplomatic tit-for-tat follows months of deteriorating relations between the two countries. South Africa has been one of Israel’s most outspoken critics since the outbreak of the Gaza war, including filing a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice accusing it of violating the Genocide Convention, an allegation Israel strongly rejects.
South African officials defended the move as a moral and legal obligation. “Our decision reflects South Africa’s commitment to international law and the protection of civilian lives,” a government spokesperson said, adding that diplomatic relations with Israel would remain under review.
Israel, however, said the expulsion would not alter its military or political strategy and warned that South Africa’s actions risk isolating itself diplomatically. “This is not constructive diplomacy,” Israel’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
Analysts say the expulsions mark one of the most serious diplomatic ruptures between South Africa and Israel since the two countries established formal relations. While South Africa previously recalled its ambassador from Israel, outright expulsion of a top diplomat represents a more forceful escalation.
The standoff also reflects broader global divisions over the Gaza conflict, with countries across Africa, Latin America, and parts of the Global South increasingly voicing criticism of Israel’s actions, while Western allies continue to defend Israel’s right to self-defense.
For now, diplomatic engagement between Pretoria and Tel Aviv appears severely strained, with both sides showing little sign of de-escalation. Observers say the episode could further complicate Israel’s relations across Africa, while reinforcing South Africa’s image as a leading advocate for Palestinian causes on the global stage.
