Senior Israeli diplomat Sharon Bar-Li and all the members of the Israeli delegation were expelled from the African Union’s annual summit in Ethiopia, Walla and Reuters reported.

The severe diplomatic incident occurred at the event’s opening ceremony when members of the security forces stationed in the hall asked the Israeli delegates to leave. According to a report by the Lebanese Al Mayadeen website, the decision to expel the Israeli delegates was made after pressure exerted by South Africa and Algeria on the members of the Union.

“Israel looks harshly upon the incident in which the deputy director for Africa, Ambassador Sharon Bar-Li, was removed from the African Union hall despite her status as an accredited observer with entrance badges,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lior Hair.

“It is sad to see that the African Union has been taken hostage by a small number of extremist countries such as Algeria and South Africa, driven by hatred and controlled by Iran. We call on African countries to stand against these actions that harm the African Union and the entire continent.”

Ebba Kalondo, the spokesperson for the African Union’s commission chairman, claimed that Bar-Li was removed because she’s not the accredited Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia, Reuters reported.

Following the incident, the Hamas terror group issued a statement welcoming the explusion of the Israeli delegation. “Hamas expresses its appreciation for all the efforts and calls that succeeded in preventing the participation of the Zionist entity in the summit, in a manner that is consistent with the values and principles of the African Union.”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)