Pretoria, December 22 (RHC)-- South Africa’s ruling party said it is downsizing its embassy in Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in the face of U.S. bias toward Israel.  “In order to give our practical expression of support to the oppressed people of Palestine, the ANC (African National Congress) has unanimously resolved to direct the South African government to immediately and unconditionally downgrade the South African Embassy in Israel to a Liaison Office,” Palestinian state news agency Wafa quoted the ANC statement as saying.

The ANC said their move would “send a clear message to Israel that there is a price to pay for its human rights abuses and violations of international law.” Palestinian ambassador to South Africa, Hashem Dajani, called the move “an important decision,” and added that he hoped other governments around the world would follow suit.

Meanwhile, 10 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since U.S. President Donald Trump announced the decision last month, Palestinian news agency Ma’an reported Wednesday, while hundreds have been injured in clashes with Israeli police and occupation forces. The Palestinian Prisoner’s Society also said that at least 490 people have been arrested since the Trump decision earlier this month, including 148 minors and 11 women.