The South African government has called upon Israel to withdraw from Gaza, despite Israel pulling out of Gaza in 2005.

The bizarre statement is just the latest of on-going anti-Israel rhetoric by the current government.

You guys either aren’t very bright or just willfully ignorant & misleading. Israel withdrew completely from #Gaza in 2005. But then again, I would expect nothing less from South Africa @GovernmentZA, today one of Hamas best friends! — Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) May 24, 2018

On Thursday morning, South Africa issued several tweets citing harsh government criticism of Israel’s response to last week’s Hamas-orchestrated riot on the Israeli-Gaza border in which more than 60 Palestinians — mostly terrorists — were killed. In one tweet, South Africa’s Cabinet called on the Israeli Defence Force to withdraw from the Gaza strip and bring to an end “the violent and destructive” incursions into Palestinian territories.

Israel unilaterally pulled all its soldiers and residents out of Gaza in 2005, nearly four decades after it took control of the coastal enclave from Egypt during the 1967 Six-Day War. Gaza is now ruled by the Hamas terrorist group, which has fought several wars against Israel over the past decade.

It should also be noted that the recent violence at the Gaza border has involved Hamas-led rioters attempting to breach the border into Israel, to which the IDF has acted to defend its border. There is no IDF presence in Gaza.

Israeli journalist Lahav Harkov of The Jerusalem Post quickly responded, saying, “What’s funny about this is that the all Israelis, including the IDF, withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005. That’s 13 years ago. And somehow @GovernmentZA doesn’t know that.” Her tweet set off a barrage of ridicule with many poking fun at South Africa’s gaffe.

“You should also call upon the english to end the illegal occupation of Normandy and the end of the frankish occupation of the Rhineland. may as well throw in the Roman occupation of carthage too,” wrote Ryan Bellerose.

Whilst another reply simply read, “Do you guys have google?”

What's funny about this is that the all Israelis, including the IDF, withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005. That's 13 years ago. And somehow @GovernmentZA doesn't know that. https://t.co/B0PCU7qlXg — Lahav Harkov (@LahavHarkov) May 24, 2018

International human rights lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky slammed South Africa for its stance on Hamas. “You guys either aren’t very bright or just willfully ignorant & misleading. Israel withdrew completely from #Gaza in 2005,” he wrote. “But then again, I would expect nothing less from South Africa @GovernmentZA, today one of Hamas best friends!”

You guys either aren’t very bright or just willfully ignorant & misleading. Israel withdrew completely from #Gaza in 2005. But then again, I would expect nothing less from South Africa @GovernmentZA, today one of Hamas best friends! — Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) May 24, 2018

Nike Tilson asked, “Why don’t you focus on solving the water crisis in one of your major cities before lecturing others?” South Africa has been beset by massive droughts and water shortages in recent months. Although Israel offered to aid the country with desalinization technology, the offer was refused for political reasons.

It also follows South Africa’s representative at the UN comparing Israel to Nazis in a speech last week. It also recalled its ambassador to Israel on Monday 14 May.

South Africa opposed urgent debate on Syria, but excoriates Israel in Gaza debate, compares Israel to Nazis, cites Rabbi. Full text: https://t.co/iHfNRXhkBQ pic.twitter.com/5K0gbW6dbr — UN Watch (@UNWatch) May 18, 2018

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