South African Government Clarifies Stance on Hamas Amidst DA Inquiries

Recent inquiries made by the Democratic Alliance (DA) in the South African parliament have prompted the government to clarify its position regarding its relationship with the Palestinian group Hamas and its recent diplomatic activities concerning Israel.

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor, addressed a series of parliamentary questions posed by DA MP Michael Bond, who has been scrutinizing the government’s alleged connections with Hamas. This comes in the wake of the devastating attacks on 7 October, which resulted in the death of over 1,000 Israelis and subsequent aggressive Israeli military actions in Gaza.

Minister Pandor was adamant that neither she nor President Cyril Ramaphosa has engaged in any recent communications with Hamas leaders. This denies any suggestion of South African collusion or conversation with the group that could impact bilateral relations with Israel.

In a detailed rebuttal to the inquiries, Pandor clarified that her contact with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in October was focused solely on humanitarian assistance to Palestine, during which she conveyed South Africa's regret over the loss of lives on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides. Furthermore, the minister stressed that neither the president nor Cabinet members had engaged in meetings with Hamas leaders to engineer any form of offensive against Israel, be it diplomatic or legal.

Additionally, the queries extended to potential alignment with the governments of Iran or Qatar in crafting a strategy against Israel, to which Pandor also offered a resounding negation. The government's diplomatic engagements have been placed under the microscope, especially following the cancellation of a planned state visit by Iran, scheduled for 27 February. The visit's abrupt cancellation, announced merely hours after its confirmation, raised questions about the commitment and direction of South African foreign policy.

South Africa has been vocal on the international stage about its perspective on the Israel-Palestine conflict. The government's decision to bring a genocide dispute against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICC) in December has drawn considerable attention. Israel has since repeatedly accused the South African government of siding with Hamas and providing the group with diplomatic cover, further necessitating clarity on South Africa's stance and actions.

The South African government's statements and Pandor's responses underscore the importance of transparency in foreign relations and aim to dispel misconceptions regarding the state's dealings with Hamas and other countries in the context of its diplomatic strategies.