A new diplomatic consequence of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: on Monday October 16, Hamas indicated that it had received the support of the South African authorities, a statement that was immediately denied by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the root of these tensions and untruths was a telephone call from Hamas’ number 1 to the South African Minister of Foreign Affairs.
On Monday, Hamas reported on its website and Telegram channel that “South Africa has expressed its support for its military operation”. This was the result of a telephone exchange between the head of the Palestinian terrorist movement, Ismaël Haniyeh, and the South African Minister of Foreign Affairs, Naledi Pandor.
After a morning of diplomatic confusion, the latter acknowledged having accepted the call from the Hamas leader, but denied “supporting violence”.
In a statement, Naledi Pandor reiterated South Africa’s solidarity and support for the Palestinian people, expressed sadness and regret for the loss of innocent Palestinian and Israeli lives, and indicated that his discussion with the Hamas official focused on the possibilities of delivering emergency aid to the Gaza Strip.
“We do not have a bilateral relationship with Hamas. We have bilateral ties with the Palestinian Authority”, presidential spokesman Vincent Magwenya wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Support for the Palestinian struggle against occupation does not equate to support for Hamas”, he said.
Faced with a backlash from South African Jewish organizations, the presidential spokesman reiterated on Tuesday afternoon that “reports that the South African government is offering support to Hamas are false.”