South Africa and Israel expel diplomats in escalating dispute
South Africa and Israel have engaged in reciprocal diplomatic expulsions, sharply escalating tensions rooted in Israel’s war in Gaza.
South Africa declared Israel’s top diplomat, chargé d’affaires Ariel Seidman, persona non grata, giving him 72 hours to leave.
It accused him of using official platforms to attack President Cyril Ramaphosa and facilitating unauthorized visits by Israeli officials.
Israel swiftly retaliated, expelling South Africa’s ambassador to Palestine, Shaun Edward Byneveldt, on the same grounds.
The rift stems from South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which Israel rejects.
Diplomatic relations have been effectively downgraded since 2018, with neither country posting an ambassador in the other.
South Africa’s foreign ministry condemned Israel’s expulsion of its envoy as a “farcical arrangement,” noting he was accredited through “the very state that occupies his host country,” referencing Palestine.
