Israel Expels South African Chargé d’Affaires in Escalating Diplomatic Row

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Israel has escalated diplomatic tensions with South Africa by expelling the latter’s Chargé d’Affaires. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar declared Edward Bayveldt persona non grata, giving him 72 hours to leave occupied Palestinian lands.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that additional retaliatory measures are under consideration. This move comes in response to South Africa’s expulsion of Israeli diplomat Ariel Sidman from Pretoria earlier this week.

South Africa’s Foreign Ministry had accused Sidman of violating diplomatic protocols before declaring him undesirable. The current diplomatic crisis follows South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice regarding Gaza.