CAPE TOWN, May 14 (Xinhua) -- The South African government on Monday decided to recall its ambassador to Israel with immediate effect in protest against Israeli attack in the occupied Gaza Strip.

The decision was made following Israel's deadly attack in the Gaza Strip earlier on Monday, said Ndivhuwo Mabaya, spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

"The South African government condemns in the strongest terms possible the latest act of violent aggression carried out by Israeli armed forces along the Gaza border, which has led to the deaths of over 40 civilians," Mabaya said.

Israeli forces opened fire on Palestinians who were protesting against the provocative inauguration of the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem. Scores of other Palestinians were injured.

"As we have stated on previous occasions, South Africa reiterates its view that the Israeli Defence Force must withdraw from the Gaza Strip and bring to an end the violent and destructive incursions into Palestinian territories," Mabaya said.

South Africa, he said, maintains further that the violence in the Gaza Strip will stand in the way of rebuilding Palestinian institutions and infrastructure.

The routine actions of the Israeli armed forces present yet another obstacle to a permanent resolution to the conflict, which must come in the form of two states, Palestine and Israel, existing side-by-side and in peace, the spokesperson said.