By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has released a statement condemning Israel’s recent attack in Damascus, Syria on the 16th of July. South Africa has expressed that the air strikes near the presidential palace is seen as a violation of international law and territorial integrity.
On the 17th of July Israel had announced that they will continue their occupation of Syrian territory, specifically in the capital city Damascus. This poses a serious threat to Syria’s sovereignty. Israel’s have redeployed it’s armed forces in the Golan Heights, air strikes occurring in Suwayda, Daraa and in the centre of Damascus is a military escalation that threatens the security and stability in the country.
Antonio Guterres, who serves as the United Nations Secretary General, has called for Israel to cease any violations of Syria’s sovereignty and to respect the 1974 Disengagement of Forces agreement. South Africa stands in solidarity with the UN Secretary General Guterres who has continued to condemn Israel.
South Africa have picked up a lot of heat in regard to their stance against Israel which started in the beginning of 2024 when South Africa took Israel to International Court of Justice claiming that Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine resembles apartheid that South Africa faced and also claim that it is perpetrating genocide in Gaza, a claim that the Israeli government continue to deny. But this has caused a wedge between South Africa and the United States who support and provide military aid to Israel, as they believe that South Africa speaking out against Israel is against America’s interest.
The United States has retaliated against South Africa by raising tariff prices, threatening to terminate the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and pulling USAID funding. The South African government while condemning Israel for their actions, have also been managing their dwindling relationship with the United States but there has been major push back from President Donald Trump’s administration.
DIRCO even issued an open letter to South African journalist, Paula Slier, who serves as a writer for Times of Israel, expressing disappointment for her support of Israel.
“I have observed with a degree of bemusement your recent forays into the biosphere of the Times of Israel. Having followed your international career, and even encountered your work on the local airwaves of Chai FM here in Johannesburg, I must confess to a certain level of disappointment at the spectacle that has unfolded.” the letter read.
“On July 11, 2025, you saw fit to amplify the extreme, dangerous, and unsubstantiated assertions of one Justin Lewis. A mere two days later, you claim that this is a ‘lobbying and advocacy effort based on unverified allegations.’ However, instead of apologizing to your readers for violating the most basic tenets of ethical journalism, and taking steps to mitigate the damage you’ve caused, you chose once again to amplify these reckless allegations, vowing to pursue them, notwithstanding the lack of evidence!” the letter continued to read.
The Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Alvin Botes, is set to deliver a lecture under the theme “Solidarity with Palestine and Reflections on the Geopolitical landscape in the Middle East”. He is set to deliver this lecture at 17:00 on the 21st July, 2025, in Kimberly, Northern Cape