The South African government announced, on Monday, the recall of its diplomats in Tel Aviv for consultations due to the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.

The Minister in charge of Presidential Affairs, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said during a press conference, today, Monday, that “the South African government decided to withdraw all its diplomats from Tel Aviv for consultations,” and stressed Pretoria’s “disappointment,” especially with “the continued Israeli bombing of schools and hospitals” in the Gaza Strip.

In turn, Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said: “We, as you know, are deeply concerned about the continued killing of children and innocent civilians in the Palestinian territories, and we believe that Israel’s response has become collective punishment.”

It added, "We thought it was important to express South Africa's concern as we continue to call for a comprehensive halt to what is happening in the Gaza Strip."

South Africa became the seventh country to recall its chief envoy from Tel Aviv due to the aggression on the Gaza Strip, preceded by Chile, Colombia, Jordan, Turkey, Honduras, and Chad.