South Africa recalls diplomats from Israel as violence escalates in Gaza

South Africa has recalled its diplomats from Israel to assess its relationship to the country as the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza passes 10,000 people, many of whom are children.

Its foreign minister Naledi Pandora said it is to assess "whether there is any potential for you to be of assistance and whether the continued relationship is actually able to be sustained in all terms", Reuters reported.

Naledi (above) added that South Africa is "extremely concerned with the killing of children and innocent civilians" in Gaza.

She said the Israeli bombardment of the blockaded coastal strip is "collective punishment".

South Africa, which does not have an ambassador in Israel, has long been a supporter of the Palestinian cause.

It had likened the situation in the occupied territories to the apartheid regime in South Africa which ended in 1948.

Call for ceasefire

South Africa was one of 120 countries voting for a non-binding UN resolution for a ceasefire on Oct 27 and continues to advocate for this.

Israel has rebuffed all international calls for a ceasefire and said it will continue the attacks until it rescues all 200-plus Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on Oct 7.

Some 1,400 Israelis were killed in the Hamas attack on a bordering village in Israel.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is open to "tactical little pauses" of "an hour here, an hour there" to allow for humanitarian aid and to rescue the hostages, the newswire reported.

He also said Israel will need security protection from attacks from Gaza for an "indefinite period" even after the ongoing violence concludes.

South Africa's move comes about a week after Bolivia severed ties with Israel, while Chile and Colombia recalled their ambassadors to assess their relationship with Israel.

Bolivia said it has cut diplomatic relations with Israel because the country was committing "crimes against humanity".

Colombia president Gustavo Petro said the country's envoys cannot remain there as long as "Israel does not stop the massacre of Palestinian people".

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