Israel has angrily denied claims that it threatened the safety of a South African minister, and in return has accused her of a “blood libel” and “serving as the legal arm” of Hamas.
Relations between the two countries hit a new low last month, when South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza – a charge it has rejected.
Since then, Naledi Pandor said she had spoken to South African Police Minister Bheki Cele about beefing up her security after she received threatening messages.
“The Israeli agents, the intelligence services, [this] is how they behave, and they seek to intimidate you, so we must not be intimidated. There is a cause that is under way,” she was quoted by local media as saying.
Israel’s strong rebuke came on Friday, with the ministry of foreign affairs telling the BBC:
Quote Message: These are baseless and false accusations, yet another blood libel by the South African foreign minister, who serves as the legal arm of the Hamas terrorist organisation.
Quote Message: South Africa is trying to undermine Israel’s right to defend itself and its citizens, and to promote the interests of Hamas and Iran in the Middle East and Africa.
Quote Message: The South African government’s support for terrorism and its actions against Israel on the bilateral and international levels are an indelible stain.”
Around 1,300 people were killed during the Hamas attacks on southern Israel on 7 October, according to Israeli officials.
More than 27,800 Palestinians have been killed and at least 67,000 injured by the war launched by Israel in response, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
