---
title: "US condemns South Africa’s expulsion of Israeli diplomat"
description: "The United States on Tuesday condemned South Africa’s decision to expel Israel’s top diplomat last week, a State Department spokesperson said, calling the African nation’s step a part of prioritising “grievance politics.”"
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-02-04-us-condemns-south-africas-expulsion-of-israeli-diplomat/"
published: "2026-02-04T04:38:28"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 198
---

# US condemns South Africa’s expulsion of Israeli diplomat

> The United States on Tuesday condemned South Africa’s decision to [expel](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS8N3UR04Y&linkedFromStory=true) Israel’s top diplomat last week, a State Department spokesperson said, calling the African nation’s step a part of prioritising “grievance politics.”

By Reuters · Published 4 February 2026, 06:38 SAST

## Key points
- The US government has condemned South Africa’s recent expulsion of Israel’s top diplomat, labeling it a move rooted in “grievance politics.”
- South Africa claims the diplomat violated diplomatic norms and insulted its president, leading to his designation as persona non grata.
- In retaliation, Israel expelled South Africa’s senior diplomat, highlighting tensions following South Africa’s genocide case against Israel in 2024.
- This diplomatic clash reflects broader geopolitical frictions, with implications for US-South Africa relations, as illustrated by sanctions and criticisms from former President Trump.

## Content

“Expelling a diplomat for calling out the African National Congress party’s ties to Hamas and other antisemitic radicals prioritises grievance politics over the good of South Africa and its citizens,” Tommy Pigott, the State Department’s deputy spokesperson, said on X.

South Africa’s embassy in Washington had no immediate comment.

On Friday, South Africa declared the top diplomat at Israel’s embassy [persona non grata](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3YV10S&linkedFromStory=true) and ordered him out within 72 hours.

It accused him of “unacceptable violations of diplomatic norms and practice,” including insulting South Africa’s president.

Israel responded by expelling South Africa’s senior diplomatic representative to its country.

Israel and South Africa have had strained relations since South Africa in 2024 brought a [genocide case](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3HJ2NR&linkedFromStory=true) in the International Court of Justice against Israel over its assault on Gaza.

Multiple rights groups, [experts and scholars](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3UO091&linkedFromStory=true) have also called Israel’s assault a genocide. Israel [denies](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL8N3E151T&linkedFromStory=true) that and called its actions self-defense following an October 2023 Hamas attack.

The genocide case has also contributed to U.S. President [Donald Trump](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/donald-trump/)’[s](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/donald-trump/) attacks on Pretoria, including verbal scolding, trade sanctions and an [executive order](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS0N3LX0DA&linkedFromStory=true) last year cutting US funding.

(Reporting by Jasper Ward and Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)