SA’s foremost concern is for Palestinian lives to be spared, not severing ties with Israel: Ntshavheni

CAPE TOWN - Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshaveni says it is more important for government to ensure Palestinian lives are spared than to act on a call from Parliament to sever diplomatic ties with Israel.

No action has yet been taken on a resolution adopted by the National Assembly in 2023 for government to deny Israel an embassy in South Africa.

ALSO READ:

- SA reiterates call for ceasefire in Gaza

- Mashatile says SA govt has ‘no regrets’ regarding genocide case against Israel

- Pandor says government needs to consider more action over situation in Rafah

Ntshaveni said with the Israeli ambassador to South Africa already being recalled, the exercise would be purely academic.

Government again approached the International Court of Justice (ICJ) recently asking it to amend interim measures issued in its genocide case against Israel as children died of malnutrition during the war on Gaza.

At the penultimate meeting of Cabinet on Wednesday, South Africa’s support for Palestinians in Gaza was once again on the agenda.

Ntshaveni said South Africa is hoping the ICJ will accede to its request for more or amended measures to secure Palestinian lives.

With the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in February registering its unhappiness over government’s failure to act on Parliament’s resolution for the closure of embassies, Ntshaveni said it was not government’s main focus.

South Africa recalled its diplomats from Tel Aviv in 2023.

“Our primary concern is not a closure of embassies where there’s nobody. The primary concern is that the people of Gaza must have peace, the people of Rafah must be safe, and there’s no threat that gets extended to the West Bank,” said Ntshaveni.

South Africa asked the ICJ to consider its latest application without a hearing with the hopes of speeding up a decision.