The foreign minister of South Africa says that people from her country who fight in the Israeli army or with them in Gaza will be arrested when they come back. This has made the relationship between the two countries even worse, especially after South Africa accused Israel of genocide at the United Nations.
Earlier this week, Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor spoke at a Palestinian solidarity event that was attended by officials from South Africa’s ruling African National Congress party.
She told people to protest outside the embassies of five countries that support Israel and its military actions in Gaza. She didn’t say their names but she was probably talking about the United States and the U. Kand also Germany and other countries.
“I have already warned South Africans who are fighting with or in the Israeli Defense Forces: We are prepared. ” “When you get home, we’re going to catch you,” Pandor said, and the audience clapped loudly.
In December, the South African government said it was worried that some of its citizens or residents had joined the IDF to fight in Gaza. They warned that these people could get in trouble if they didn’t have permission to do so under South Africa’s laws.
People who have citizenship in both South Africa and Israel may lose their South African citizenship, according to the foreign ministry.
Pandor’s comments showed that the government is taking a stricter position.
It’s not known how many people from South Africa have fought for Israel in the current Gaza war. South Africa has a lot of Jewish people, about 70,000.
South Africa’s government has always supported the Palestinian people and criticized Israel, even before the recent war.
Many South Africans and the ruling ANC party see similarities between how Israel treats Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and how non-whites were treated during apartheid in South Africa.
Israel says no to South Africa’s accusation that it is treating Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza in a way that is similar to apartheid. Israel also strongly disagrees with South Africa’s claim in the International Court of Justice that it is committing genocide in Gaza. The decision in that case might not come for a very long time.
Israel said that South Africa is supporting the Hamas group that attacked southern Israel on Oct. and is not on their side. The fighting between Israel and Gaza started when 1200 Israelis were killed and 250 hostages were taken back to Gaza.
Israel’s attack on Gaza has caused a lot of damage. More than 31,000 Palestinians have died, and many of the 2. 3 million people who live there have been forced to leave their homes. This has caused a big problem, with hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in danger of starving.
Pandor asked people at the event to make signs that say “Stop Genocide” and protest outside the embassies of the countries that support Israel.
âDonât just come to this dinner. “Be seen supporting the people of Palestine,” she said.
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Those fighting for Israel in Gaza should be detained – South African minister
