APA-Pretoria (South Africa) South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC) is backing a parliamentary motion by the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) calling for the closure of Israel’s diplomatic mission in Pretoria.
The EFF on Thursday proposed a motion calling for the suspension of all diplomatic relations with Israel in solidarity with the Palestinian people amid Israel’s war on Gaza. The motion is expected to be voted on at a future date.
The ANC said in a statement on Thursday that it also backed a call by President Cyril Ramaphosa for Israel to be referred to the International Criminal Court for war crimes allegedly committed during the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.
“Given the unfolding atrocities in occupied Palestine, the African National Congress will agree to a parliamentary motion which calls upon the government to close the Israeli embassy in South Africa and suspend all diplomatic relations with Israel until it agrees to a ceasefire,” the statement said.
The Israel-Gaza war has killed over 11,000 people and nearly 5,000 children since 7 October due to relentless and indiscriminate bombing of Gaza by Israeli forces.
Ramaphosa this week announced his government’s decision to refer Israel to the ICC for committing war crimes at the end of his state visit to Qatar.
NM/jn/APA