News - Middle East: South Africa and Chad have joined the diplomatic boycott of Israel by recalling their diplomats from Tel Aviv amid the regime’s war on the besieged Gaza Strip.

Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, a minister in the South African president’s office, said in a statement on Monday the government “has decided to withdraw all of its diplomats in Tel Aviv for consultation.”
“Cabinet has also noted the continuing disparaging remarks of the Israeli ambassador to South Africa about those who are opposing the atrocities and the genocide” of the Israeli regime.

“A genocide under the watch of the international community cannot be tolerated,” Ntshavheni said.

Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said in a later press conference that the African nation is “extremely concerned at the continued killing of children and innocent civilians in the Palestinian territories.”
“We felt it important that we do signal the concern of South Africa while continuing to call for a comprehensive cessation [of hostilities].”
Chad also recalled the country’s chargé d’affaires to Tel Aviv on Saturday.
A post on the Chadian presidency website Monday said the decision was made in “indignation” at the regime’s relentless bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
The two nations are the only African countries to recall their diplomats from Tel Aviv.
Turkey has also recalled its ambassador for “consultations” due to the “unfolding humanitarian tragedy in Gaza,” the foreign ministry said in a statement Saturday.