• South Africa expels Israeli diplomat Ariel Seidman, citing violations of diplomatic norms.
• Israel responds by expelling South Africa's senior diplomat Shaun Edward Byneveldt.
• Tensions have escalated due to accusations of genocide related to the Gaza conflict.
• The expulsion is linked to Seidman's alleged insulting posts about South African President Ramaphosa.
• South Africa has filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

South Africa has declared the charge d'affaires of Israel's embassy, Ariel Seidman, persona non grata, requiring him to leave the country within 72 hours. The decision stems from what South Africa's foreign ministry calls "unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice," which challenge South Africa's sovereignty, including Seidman's alleged insulting remarks about President Cyril Ramaphosa on social media and failure to inform authorities of high-level Israeli visits, according to Reuters and AA.

In response, Israel has reciprocated by declaring South Africa's representative, Shaun Edward Byneveldt, persona non grata, giving him the same 72-hour deadline to exit the country. The Israeli Foreign Ministry characterized South Africa's actions as "false attacks" against Israel and indicated that further steps may follow, according to Al Jazeera, Reuters, and AA.

The tensions come amid South Africa's condemnation of Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip, where more than 71,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since October 2023. South Africa's government filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging violations of the Genocide Convention, which has put additional strain on diplomatic relations, as noted by AA and Al Jazeera.

South African officials criticized Seidman's rhetoric and the alleged breaches of diplomatic conduct, asserting these actions undermine trust and the protocols vital for bilateral relations. The government stressed the need for Israel to engage with "respect" in future diplomatic interactions, a sentiment echoed by South African lawmakers and activists who have become increasingly vocal against what they describe as violations of human rights and international law by Israel, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.