South African citizens participating in the conflict in Gaza may face legal consequences back home, cautioned the South African Department of Foreign Affairs.
The foreign ministry said it was "gravely concerned" by reports of South African nationals, also serving as Israeli soldiers, joining the Israeli Defense Forces in Gaza or contemplating such action.
"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 statement said.
Naturalized citizens are at further risk of being stripped of their South African nationality for engaging in a war that the country "does not support or agree with," the ministry added.
The ministry clarified that South Africans require prior government approval to legally participate in conflicts in Israel. Additionally, naturalized citizens engaging in a war that Pretoria "does not support or agree with," risk losing their South African nationality.
In a separate statement, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa called the events in Gaza a "genocide and slaughter" of the Palestinian people and reiterated his call for a ceasefire.
He drew parallels between the struggle of the Palestinians and that of South Africans during the apartheid regime.
"As we look at the sufferings of the Palestinians, they are going through what we as South Africans have experienced during the apartheid era," the president said.
The South African government has repeatedly called for a ceasefire since the October escalation, describing the death toll in Gaza as "the result of unlawful actions by Israel." South Africa's Foreign Minister, Naledi Pandor, in November called Israel's actions in Gaza a "crime against humanity" and urged countries with influence to call on the Jewish state to stop the violence.