JOHANNESBURG – South Africa recalled its ambassador to Israel on Mondayafter at least 55 Palestinians were killed in clashes with Israeli forcesduring protests over the US embassy opening in Jerusalem.
“Given the indiscriminate and grave manner of the latest Israeli attack,the South African government has taken a decision to recall Ambassador SisaNgombane with immediate effect until further notice,” South Africa sforeign ministry said in a statement.
“The victims were taking part in a peaceful protest against the provocativeinauguration of the US embassy in Jerusalem,” it said, condemning “violentaggression carried out by Israeli armed forces”.
“This latest attack has resulted in scores of other Palestinian citizensreported injured, and the wanton destruction of property,” it added.
The violence erupted over the formal opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem.
More than 2,400 Palestinians were wounded and the dead included eightchildren under the age of 16, according to the Palestinian envoy to theUnited Nations.
It was the bloodiest day in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since a 2014Gaza war. – APP/AFP