A social media post by Mega-Politics on September 27, 2026, claimed that South Africa had severed diplomatic ties with Israel and expelled Israeli ambassadors. The post gained significant traction with 2.4k reposts, 7.1k likes, and 133 bookmarks. However, a review of official channels does not indicate a complete cutoff of diplomatic relations between the two countries. South Africa and Israel have a long and complex history of diplomatic relations, dating back to 1947 when South Africa voted for the UN Partition Plan for the creation of a Jewish State.
During the Apartheid era, South Africa and Israel established a strong economic and diplomatic relationship, with Israel supplying South Africa with arms and nuclear technology. However, after the collapse of the Apartheid regime in 1994, the new South African government took an increasingly unfriendly stance towards Israel due to its treatment of Palestinians. Former President Nelson Mandela urged Israel to withdraw from occupied lands and allow Palestinians to have their own state during a visit to Israel in 1999.
In recent years, South Africa has taken several steps to express its disapproval of Israel's actions. In 2018, South Africa recalled its ambassador from Israel, citing the harsh treatment of Palestinian protesters in Gaza by Israeli forces. In December 2023, South Africa brought proceedings against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), claiming that Israel was committing acts of genocide in Gaza. Israel denied the claim, dismissing the allegations as blood libel.
On January 30, 2026, South Africa expelled Ariel Seidman, Israel's chargé d'affaires, in response to Israel's actions in Gaza. Israel retaliated shortly afterwards by declaring South Africa's envoy to Palestine a persona non grata. Despite these tensions, there is no evidence to suggest that diplomatic ties between Israel and South Africa have been completely severed.
In fact, on September 29, 2026, the Embassy of Israel in South Africa published a post welcoming Hen Feder, the new Deputy Chief of Mission. This suggests that diplomatic relations between the two countries are still ongoing. Major news outlets have not reported any further escalation of tension between South Africa and Israel, specifically regarding a complete cutoff of diplomatic ties.
The claim that South Africa has ended all diplomatic ties with Israel is misleading, according to a review of official channels and news reports. While there have been several diplomatic spats between the two countries, there is no evidence to suggest a complete severing of ties. The situation remains complex, with both countries maintaining diplomatic relations despite their differences.
The verification of the claim highlights the importance of fact-checking and seeking credible sources before accepting information as true. The spread of misinformation on social media can have significant consequences, and it is essential to rely on reputable sources to stay informed about current events. In this case, the evidence suggests that diplomatic ties between South Africa and Israel remain intact.
Key points
- The claim that South Africa cut diplomatic ties with Israel is misleading.
- South Africa and Israel have a long and complex history of diplomatic relations.
- Diplomatic tensions between the two countries have increased in recent years due to Israel's actions in Gaza.
