diplomatic ties with Israel are being suspended by the ANC.

In response to calls to shut down the Israeli embassy in Pretoria due to the ongoing conflict in Palestinian territory, the party stated that it also supports those calls.

Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, an ANC spokesperson, said,” We cannot watch the genocidal actions of the Israeli regime.”

A parliamentary motion calling for the government to shut down the Israel embassy in South Africa and halt all diplomatic ties with Israel will be approved by the African National Congress.

Earlier this month, South Africa called back all of its diplomats from Israel.

Following an unprecedented Hamas attack in southern Israel on October 7, fighting has erupted in Gaza. According to authorities, 239 people were taken hostage and 1, 200 people—mostly civilians—were killed.

According to the Hamas-run health ministry, Israel’s air and ground offensive in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of more than 11,500 people, mostly civilians.

The ANC, the late president Nelson Mandela’s party, frequently associates Pretoria with its own historical struggle against apartheid, despite the fact that the city has long been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause.

The Economic Freedom Fighters ( EFF), a radical leftist opposition group, proposed the parliamentary motion, which will be discussed on Thursday.

Government approval is required for its implementation because it is not legally binding.