Middle East conflict | Lindiwe Sisulu calls on SA to cut ties with Israel

CAPE TOWN - Former International Relations Minister Lindiwe Sisulu says she is in favour of Israel's ambassador to South Africa being sent packing and for all diplomatic ties with Israel to be suspended until there is a ceasefire and humanitarian corridors are opened and safe for aid to enter Gaza.

Sisulu was speaking on the sidelines of an inter-faith service held at St Georges Cathedral in Cape Town.

READ: Israel-Palestine conflict | National Assembly mulls over shutting down Israeli embassy

South Africa has already joined a coalition of other countries in filing a formal complaint with the International Criminal Court, demanding that the Israeli government be investigated for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Previously in 2019 when she was still the minister of International Relations, Sisulu recalled South Africa’s ambassador in Israel and downgraded the embassy there. 

READ: SA recalls diplomats from Israel for talks

"We are not against the Jews. We in the ANC have benefited greatly from the Jewish community but we don’t want to see Zionism spread beyond acceptable limits," Sisulu said.

"We would not be here if people from other countries had not stood with us to give us the necessary support, and I urge the ANC to use their conscience and vote the right way."

* eNCA's Ayesha Ismail reports.