The recent flare-up of armed conflict between Israel and Hamas has left many in the world aghast, with demonstrations occurring around the globe calling for peace in the latest iteration of a conflict that has lasted almost a century, with casualties in the previous few weeks surpassing 11,000. South Africans find themselves in a unique position, with the government bearing strong historical ties to the Palestinian struggle, and Israel having been one of the few governments to hold ties with the apartheid South African government.
In a striking display of diplomatic disapproval, South Africa recalled its diplomatic corps from Israel in November. Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, lambasted the ground invasion of Gaza, referring to the killing of Palestinian children as a “war crime”. This action reflects South Africa’s deeprooted historical solidarity with the Palestinian cause, reminiscent of the support
