South Africa on Monday stopped short of expelling Israel's ambassador to Pretoria, instead announcing only the recall of its diplomats to Tel Aviv for consultation as direct diplomatic reaction to what international relations minister Naledi Pandor called a war crime.

The position of that ambassador, Eli Belotserkovsky, in South Africa was "untenable", said the Cabinet, but it would leave action on that to Pandor's Department of International Relations and Cooperation (Dirco).

The Cabinet did not specify exactly what statements Belotserkovsky had made or what conduct of his it had found so offensive. 

Belotserkovsky would not comment on the statement, and Israel's foreign affairs department was not available to speak about the matter.

Unless and until South Africa does expel Belotserkovsky, it is on the mild side of countries that have taken diplomatic action against what they describe as an illegal and unjust war in Gaza with a huge civilian death toll.

Several countries have kicked out Israeli ambassadors, one has severed economic ties, and one considered ways to make it a criminal act to seek any sort of relationship with Israel.

Among the world's top-level diplomats, Pandor has been among the most vocal and direct critics of Israel's actions in Gaza.

But she is far from alone. While Israel's most important ally, the United States, has expressed a wish for means to reduce civilian deaths and called for better ways to get more aid into Gaza faster, some of America's own close allies have had harsh words for Israel, notably Turkey and several European Union member states.

Diplomatic protests around the world

Here is what direct diplomatic action, and direct criticism, has been levelled against Israel to date.

• In the Middle East, Bahrain expelled Israel's ambassador while recalling its own, and also severing economic ties. Jordan withdrew its ambassador, and told Israel's representative not to return. 
• In South America, Bolivia severed diplomatic ties with Israel, while Chile and Colombia recalled their ambassadors from Israel. Argentina and Brazil have both been sharply critical of Israel's bombardment of Gaza. 
• In Central America, Honduras, which made the controversial move of its embassy to Jerusalem in 2021, recalled its ambassador.
• Turkey, a NATO member with relatively warm recent relations with Israel, recalled its ambassador, suggesting it is breaking ties with the administration of Benjamin Netanyahu, rather than with Israel as such.
• Elsewhere in Africa, Tunisia's parliament attempted to criminalise commercial or cultural connections with Israel, though its president blocked that effort, saying such legislation cannot be rushed.
• On Monday, Chad said it had recalled its representative to Israel over the weekend, citing its "indignation" at Israel's actions.
• In Europe, Belgium and Spain have been notably critical of Israel. No EU country has taken diplomatic action, though Ireland's most popular party Sinn Féin called for the expulsion of the Israeli ambassador.