Outspoken Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Ghaleb Cachalia has resigned from the party, citing a growing dysfunctional, undemocratic and authoritarian tendency in the party and a clash with the party leadership over his comments on the war in Gaza.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, he announced his resignation.

"The leadership of the DA has become increasingly uncomfortable with my public utterances over the past few months. This mainly concerns issues around the war on Gaza. As a consequence, I have been fired from my position in the shadow cabinet – notwithstanding any connection between my erstwhile portfolio and the events referred to.

"Since then I have been accused of contradicting DA official policy and contravening a caucus injunction to only allow the shadow minister for Dirco (Department of International Relations and Cooperation) to comment on related matters. I have since received a 'cease and desist' notification," he said.

"Moreover, I have not been furnished with any caucus decision which empowers the shadow minister with sole rights of commentary on the matter. This evinces a growing dysfunctional, undemocratic and authoritarian tendency in the party."

Cachalia's resignation comes a day after Khume Ramulifho also resigned from the party.

Ramulifho contested against Solly Msimanga for the DA's Gauteng leadership position, but lost.

In November last year, DA leader John Steenhuisen removed Cachalia from his "shadow Cabinet" for not toeing the party line on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

He was replaced as the spokesperson on public enterprises by Mimmy Gondwe. 

Shortly after the start of the current violence, which erupted on 7 October, when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel in which nearly 500 people were killed, the DA's Emma Powell released a statement. It said the party condemned Hamas' "unprovoked attack on Israeli territory during the religious holiday of Simchat Torah".

Cachalia's views, as expressed on social media, differed as he blamed Israel's occupation of Gaza for the violence.

In his detailed resignation letter to the party’s chairperson of federal executive committee, Helen Zille, Cachalia said should the party wish to continue and conclude the disciplinary process against him, he would delay his resignation.

"I will be willing to delay my resignation until such a date as I have no desire to obfuscate nor escape any allegations made. However, the party should be aware that during the intervening time, I will continue to publicly voice my opinion on Gaza. I am of the firm belief that insofar as such policy may exist on the war in Gaza, I have not directly contradicted party policy in any way," he said.

He also said that it had become clear that the party did not want him to return to Parliament after this year’s general election.

"I cannot but infer that party leadership intends, not only to sideline me, but also to prevent my return as a candidate MP on the list for the 2024 elections. Over the same period I have repeatedly sought meetings with the leader and requested mediation processes to be instituted. Such requests have been met with silence. The party leader has since said he is open to mediation contingent on me furnishing him with an apology in advance of any mediation."