South African MPs vote to end relations with Israel amid violent attacks on Gaza

Members of the South African parliament, in a glaring show of support for the people of Gaza, have voted to end all relations with Israel and close its embassy in Pretoria, the capital city.

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) chief whip, Pemmy Majodina, and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, said the aggressive military campaigns of Israel have pushed South Africa to cut relations with the country until there was a ceasefire in the ongoing war in Gaza.

248 MPs voted in support of the motion to cut ties with Israel, while a total of 91 MPs voted against the motion.

The governing African National Congress has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinians, and it supported the motion in parliament.

The ANC pushed for the motion calling for the closure of the Israeli embassy and the suspension of ties until Israel agrees to a ceasefire and commits to binding negotiations.

Israel had recalled its ambassador “for consultations” a move it said followed “the latest South African statements”.

President Cyril Ramaphosa recently referred Israel to the International Criminal Court for potential war crimes and recalled South Africa’s diplomats from Israel.

On Tuesday, he presided over a virtual summit of the BRICS group of countries to discuss the situation in Gaza.

At the meeting, Ramaphosa accused Israel of genocide in Gaza and condemned what he called the collective punishment of Palestinian citizens.

The health ministry in the occupied territory says more than 14,000 people, including more than 5,000 children, have been killed in Israel’s campaign.