BRICS leaders, seen here at the 2023 BRICS summite in South Africa, met for a virtual summit on Tuesday to discuss the Israel-Hamas conflict. Photo: Internet Source

Tuesday's motion is largely symbolic as it is up to President Cyril Ramaphosa's government whether to implement the resolution or not.

It passed with 248 votes in favor and 91 votes against.

The motion was introduced by the left-wing opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

"In the name of our own constitutional values we must end these relations until human rights of Palestinians are respected, promoted and protected," EFF party leader, Julius Malema, said last week when he proposed the vote.

"Israel must comply with international law and until then any relations with them must be regarded as an offense to our constitution."

South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) referred to the "current atrocities in occupied Palestine" as its reason for agreeing with the parliamentary motion.

Ahead of the vote, Corne Mulder from the white nationalist party Freedom Front Plus (FF+) cautioned against the move.

"The fact of the matter is that if you expel the ambassador of Israel and cut all diplomatic ties with Israel, South Africa will not be in a position to play any role, whatsoever, in terms of any mediation or any chance to try and play a positive and constructive role to bring this conflict to an end," Mulder said.