The South African government has threatened to prosecute citizens fighting for the Israel Defence Forces against Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, according to a report by AFP.

The government said it was “gravely concerned” that some South African nationals have joined the Israeli military, adding: “Such action can potentially contribute to the violation of international law and the commission of further international crimes, thus making them liable for prosecution in South Africa.”

The report suggested that South Africans need government approval to fight for Israel and that the State Security Agency was tracking down those who had enlisted.

South Africans are at risk of having their citizenship stripped for engaging in a war that the country “does not support or agree with”, the report said, citing a Foreign Ministry statement.

On Monday, President Cyril Ramaphosa denounced Israel's response to Hamas's October 7 massacre as a “genocidal onslaught and slaughter of the people of Palestine”.

Earlier this month, a senior Hamas delegation arrived in South Africa to participate in the Fifth Global Convention of Solidarity with Palestine. The delegation included politburo member Bassem Naim, Hamas representative in Iran Khaled Qaddoumi and the representative in East, Central and Southern Africa Emad Saber.

South Africa is one of few countries that recognises Hamas as a legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

Last month, the National Assembly, South Africa’s parliament, passed a non-binding resolution by 248-91 to suspend diplomatic ties with Israel.

A week before, Israel recalled its ambassador to South Africa for consultations after the ruling African National Congress accused Israel of “genocide” in Gaza. ANC spokeswoman Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri said: “We cannot sit back and watch the genocidal actions of the Israeli regime.”

The move came two weeks after Pretoria recalled its diplomats from Israel.

“We are … extremely concerned at the continued killing of children and innocent civilians in the Palestinian territories and we believe the nature of response by Israel has become one of collective punishment,” Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor said at the time.

Pandor spoke by phone with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh on 17 October, less than two weeks after the terror organisation invaded south-western Israel and massacred 1,200 people, wounded more than 5,000 others, and took some 240 hostages back to Gaza.