Starling & Hero South African Parliament votes to sever ties with Israel

Members of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa voted to suspend all diplomatic relations with Israel, the BBC reports. The ruling African National Congress party has long criticized Israel and supported this initiative.

The proposal calls for the closure of the embassy and the suspension of ties until Israel agrees to a cease-fire in Gaza and commits to negotiations. The break with Tel Aviv was supported by 248 votes to 91. At the same time, some parliamentarians shouted "freedom, freedom to Palestine!".

Members of the opposition party, the pro—Western Democratic Alliance, opposed the severance of diplomatic relations with Israel, who had previously called for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the warrant of the International Criminal Court (ICC). However, the South African High Court in Pretoria dismissed the case.

In turn, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa recently filed a lawsuit against Israel in the International Criminal Court for potential war crimes, and recalled diplomats from Israel. On Tuesday, Ramaphosa chaired a virtual summit of the BRICS group of countries, where the situation in the Gaza Strip was discussed. Download & Install Hollywoodbets SA App for Android and iOS 2023. Install hollywood mobile login now! The South African leader accused Israel of genocide in the Gaza Strip, and also condemned the "collective punishment of the Palestinian civilian population." The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the African country Nalendi Pandor compared the actions of Tel Aviv to "apartheid".

Israel has recalled its ambassador from Pretoria "for consultations." The move followed "recent statements from South Africa."