Israel's Increasing International Isolation: A Precursor to a 'South Africa Moment'?

Sun Oct 19 2025 12:51:01 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As the situation in Gaza escalates, Israel faces heightened scrutiny and criticism from the international community, raising fears of becoming a diplomatic pariah similar to apartheid-era South Africa.

The ongoing conflict in Gaza has intensified Israel's isolation globally, with comparisons being drawn to South Africa during its apartheid regime. Key nations are now talking of recognizing Palestinian statehood, and boycotts against Israel are resurfacing in cultural and political arenas. Former Israeli politicians argue that this isolation can lead to catastrophic long-term impacts on Israel's international standing, with some citing measures reminiscent of the pressure that brought an end to apartheid in South Africa.

As the war in Gaza grinds on, Israel's international isolation appears to be deepening.

Is it approaching a South Africa moment, when a combination of political pressure, economic, sporting and cultural boycotts helped to force Pretoria to abandon apartheid?

Or can the right-wing government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu weather the diplomatic storm, leaving Israel free to pursue its goals in Gaza and the occupied West Bank without causing permanent damage to its international standing?

Two former prime ministers, Ehud Barak and Ehud Olmert, have already accused Netanyahu of turning Israel into an international pariah.

Thanks to a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, the number of countries Netanyahu can travel to without the risk of being arrested has shrunk dramatically.

At the UN, several countries, including Britain, France, Australia, Belgium and Canada, are planning to recognize Palestine as a state next week.

And Gulf countries, reacting with fury to last Tuesday's Israeli attack on Hamas leaders in Qatar, have been meeting in Doha to discuss a unified response, with some calling on countries which enjoy relations with Israel to think again.

But with images of starvation emerging from Gaza over the summer and the Israeli army poised to invade - and quite possibly destroy - Gaza City, more and more European governments are showing their displeasure in ways that go beyond mere statements.

At the start of the month, Belgium announced a series of sanctions, including a ban on imports from illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank, a review of procurement policies with Israeli companies, and restrictions on consular assistance to Belgians living in settlements.

It declared two hardline Israeli government ministers, Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, persona non grata, along with Jewish settlers accused of violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.

Following Belgium, Spain announced similar measures, including turning an existing arms embargo into law and barring individuals involved in war crimes from entering Spanish territory.

Norway's sovereign wealth fund also divested from Israeli companies, and the EU plans to sanction far-right ministers involved in the conflict.

In a historic parallel, sporting and cultural boycotts against Israel appear to be gaining momentum, with numerous countries indicating they might withdraw from events if Israel is allowed to participate amidst its military actions.

In Hollywood, a letter calling for a boycott of Israeli productions has garnered over 4,000 signatures from prominent figures.

The Israeli government's response has been largely defiant, yet insiders express deep concerns over Israel's growing isolation and ponder whether it is on the brink of a diplomatic crisis reminiscent of South Africa's apartheid era.