The South African government became a laughing stock on Twitter on Thursday after it called on Israel to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, even though it already did so in 2005.

Israel unilaterally pulled all its soldiers and residents out of Gaza in 2005, nearly four decades after it took control of the coastal enclave from Egypt during the 1967 Six-Day War. Gaza is now ruled by the Hamas terrorist group, which has fought several wars against Israel over the past decade.

On Thursday morning, South Africa issued several tweets citing harsh government criticism of the Jewish state’s response to last week’s Hamas-orchestrated riot on the Israeli-Gaza border in which more than 60 Palestinians — mostly terrorists — were killed.

“Cabinet condemned in the strongest terms the acts of violent aggression carried out by Israeli armed forces along the Gaza border, which led to the deaths of a large number of civilians,” read one.

South African Government@GovernmentZA

Cabinet condemned in the strongest terms the acts of violent aggression carried out by Israeli armed forces along the Gaza border, which led to the deaths of a large number of civilians.

6:02 AM - May 24, 2018

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Another stated, “Cabinet reiterates calls made by several member states of the United Nations for an independent inquiry into the killings, with a view to hold those responsible accountable.”

South African Government@GovernmentZA

Cabinet reiterates calls made by several member states of the United Nations for an independent inquiry into the killings, with a view to hold those responsible accountable.

6:03 AM - May 24, 2018

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One then added, “Cabinet calls on the Israeli Defence Force to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and bring to an end the violent and destructive incursions into Palestinian territories.”

South African Government@GovernmentZA

Cabinet calls on the Israeli Defence Force to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and bring to an end the violent and destructive incursions into Palestinian territories.

6:02 AM - May 24, 2018

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Israeli journalist Lahav Harkov of The Jerusalem Post quickly responded, saying, “What’s funny about this is that the all Israelis, including the IDF, withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005. That’s 13 years ago. And somehow @GovernmentZA doesn’t know that.”

Lahav Harkov@LahavHarkov

What's funny about this is that the all Israelis, including the IDF, withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005. That's 13 years ago. And somehow @GovernmentZA doesn't know that. https://twitter.com/GovernmentZA/status/999591516749393920 

9:07 AM - May 24, 2018

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The tweet set off a merciless round of mockery, with a series of tweets poking fun at South Africa’s gaffe.

“The South African government calls on the South African government to free Nelson Mandela,” wrote Thomas Stern, referring to South Africa’s late president who spent decades in prison during the Apartheid era.

Lahav Harkov@LahavHarkov

What's funny about this is that the all Israelis, including the IDF, withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005. That's 13 years ago. And somehow @GovernmentZA doesn't know that. https://twitter.com/GovernmentZA/status/999591516749393920 

Thomas Stern@shmarxism

"The South African government calls on the South African government to free Nelson Mandela."

9:22 AM - May 24, 2018

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“You should also call upon the english to end the illegal occupation of Normandy and the end of the frankish occupation of the Rhineland. may as well throw in the Roman occupation of carthage too,” wrote Ryan Bellerose.

South African Government@GovernmentZA

Cabinet calls on the Israeli Defence Force to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and bring to an end the violent and destructive incursions into Palestinian territories.

(((Ryan Bellerose)))@Fenris69

you should also call upon the english to end the illegal occupation of Normandy and the end of the frankish occupation of the Rhineland. may as well throw in the Roman occupation of carthage too.

12:35 PM - May 24, 2018

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David Sachs asked, “Do you guys have google?”

South African Government@GovernmentZA

Cabinet calls on the Israeli Defence Force to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and bring to an end the violent and destructive incursions into Palestinian territories.

David Sachs@TheDavidSachs

Do you guys have google?

8:40 AM - May 24, 2018

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A user known simply as “Andrew” relied on a pun, saying, “This tweet was written by an actual cabinet.”

South African Government@GovernmentZA

Cabinet calls on the Israeli Defence Force to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and bring to an end the violent and destructive incursions into Palestinian territories.

Andrew@andrule11

This tweet was written by an actual cabinet

9:33 AM - May 24, 2018

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Assaf Chiriqui asked, “Do you live under a rock?”

South African Government@GovernmentZA

Cabinet calls on the Israeli Defence Force to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and bring to an end the violent and destructive incursions into Palestinian territories.

Assaf Chriqui@AssafChriqui

Do you live under a rock?https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_disengagement_from_Gaza  pic.twitter.com/HbWzljHNdE

8:33 AM - May 24, 2018

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Others took a more serious tone. Judson McColloch, for example, slammed the South African government for adopting the policies of its volatile neighbor Zimbabwe as the reason for the tweet, saying, “Zimbabwe is their model government so……..”

Lahav Harkov@LahavHarkov

What's funny about this is that the all Israelis, including the IDF, withdrew from the Gaza Strip in 2005. That's 13 years ago. And somehow @GovernmentZA doesn't know that. https://twitter.com/GovernmentZA/status/999591516749393920 

Judson McCulloch@JudsonMcCulloch

Zimbabwe is their model government so........

9:41 AM - May 24, 2018 · San Antonio, TX

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International human rights lawyer Arsen Ostrovsky slammed South Africa for its stance on Hamas. “You guys either aren’t very bright or just willfully ignorant & misleading. Israel withdrew completely from #Gaza in 2005,” he wrote. “But then again, I would expect nothing less from South Africa @GovernmentZA, today one of Hamas best friends!”

South African Government@GovernmentZA

Cabinet calls on the Israeli Defence Force to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and bring to an end the violent and destructive incursions into Palestinian territories.

Arsen Ostrovsky@Ostrov_A

You guys either aren’t very bright or just willfully ignorant & misleading. Israel withdrew completely from in 2005.

But then again, I would expect nothing less from South Africa @GovernmentZA, today one of Hamas best friends!

10:05 AM - May 24, 2018

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Nike Tilson asked, “Why don’t you focus on solving the water crisis in one of your major cities before lecturing others?” South Africa has been beset by massive droughts and water shortages in recent months. Although Israel offered to aid the country with desalinization technology, the offer was refused for political reasons.

South African Government@GovernmentZA

Cabinet calls on the Israeli Defence Force to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and bring to an end the violent and destructive incursions into Palestinian territories.

Nike Tilson@FillyMike

Why don't you focus on solving the water crisis in one of your major cities before lecturing others

8:47 AM - May 24, 2018

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Journalist and commentator Howard Feldman accused the government of parroting the BDS movement, saying, “You have got to stop BDS from writing your statements. They are making fools of you. You seriously have no idea how stupid you look. Gosh. So. Embarrassing.”

South African Government@GovernmentZA

Cabinet calls on the Israeli Defence Force to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and bring to an end the violent and destructive incursions into Palestinian territories.

Howard Feldman@HowardFeldman

You have got to stop BDS from writing your statements. They are making fools of you. You seriously have no idea how stupid you look. Gosh. So. Embarrassing.

11:23 AM - May 24, 2018

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Israeli political consultant Arik Elman struck out at what he saw as South Africa’s hypocrisy on Israel, writing, “Hi, South African Government. In case you haven’t noticed, since 2005 there is no permanent Israeli presence in the Gaza Strip, neither civilian nor military. Moreover, during the recent clashes it was Hamas who attempted ‘violent and destructive incursions’ into Israel. Enjoy.”

South African Government@GovernmentZA

Cabinet calls on the Israeli Defence Force to withdraw from the Gaza Strip and bring to an end the violent and destructive incursions into Palestinian territories.

Arik Elman@ElmanArik

Hi, South African Government. In case you haven't noticed, since 2005 there is no permanent Israeli presence in the Gaza Strip, neither civilian nor military. Moreover, during the recent clashes it was Hamas who attempted "violent and destructive incursions" into Israel. Enjoy.

9:14 AM - May 24, 2018

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The South African government has become increasingly hostile to the Jewish state in recent years, with a significant uptick over the past weeks.