South Africa has reinstated its ambassador to Israel.
The South African government recalled Ismail Coovadia seven weeks ago following Israel’s interception of a Turkish aid ship, which led to the death of nine Turkish activists.
Coovadia’s recall was the country’s way of registering its strongest protest of the incident.
The South African government also issued a demarche, the strongest form of diplomatic protest, against Israel’s action.
“The South African government also continues to call on the Israeli government to lift its blockade of Gaza, which is causing untold suffering to thousands of innocent civilians,” said Department of International Relations and Cooperation spokesperson Saul Molobi, who also called for a “prompt, impartial, credible and transparent” independent international investigation. — jta