South Africa expels Israeli diplomat, Jerusalem responds in escalating diplomatic clash

The South African government declared the Israeli deputy ambassador to South Africa, Ariel Seidman, persona non grata on Friday, accusing the senior Israeli diplomat of what it described as "unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice which pose a direct challenge to South Africa's sovereignty."

The South African Foreign Ministry said the alleged violations included the repeated use of official Israeli social media platforms to launch what it called “insulting attacks” against President Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as a deliberate failure to inform South African authorities about visits by Israeli officials to the country.

As a result, Seidman is required to leave the country within 72 hours.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem condemned South Africa’s diplomatic measure against Seidman as "false attacks on Israel in the international arena."

Israel quickly reciprocated by declaring the South African embassy persona non grata. The expelled senior South African diplomat is legally required to leave Israel within 72 hours.

South Africa has previously recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv due to the nation's opposition to Israel’s military operations against the Hamas terrorist organization in Gaza.

Diplomatic relations between South Africa and Israel have deteriorated sharply since Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing 1,200 Israelis.

South Africa, which has close relations with the Iranian regime, failed to condemn Hamas for the unprecedented atrocities against largely Israeli civilians, including women, children and the elderly.

Instead, South Africa has become one of Israel’s most outspoken critics on the international stage.

In January 2024, South Africa formally accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza in a case submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The South African case claims that Israel seeks to “destroy Palestinian life and to wipe them off the face of the earth.”

Israel and leading Western nations, including the United States, Germany and the United Kingdom, have rejected the accusation of “genocide” against Israel in Gaza. Israeli officials have repeatedly stated that Israel seeks to minimize civilian casualties in Gaza, while Hamas has tried to maximize civilian casualties by deliberately using civilians as human shields in flagrant violation of international law.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog condemned the South African genocide case against Israel as a “blood libel.”

In November 2024, the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy reported that Iran financed South Africa’s genocide case against Israel.

The report documented the South African government’s close relationship with the ayatollah regime and its terror proxies. The report also argued that the Iranian terrorist axis saved the South African administration from financial bankruptcy.