South African leaders had ‘cosy’ meetings with Hamas after deadly October 7 terrorist attack before accusing Israel of genocide

South African leaders met with Hamas militants during official visits to their country following the deadly October 7 terrorist attack on Israel, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

A Hamas delegation visited South Africa in December, at a time when even Arab countries were distancing themselves from the terrorist group, which killed nearly 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped about 250 in the atrocity.

Israeli sources said the visit by Hamas leaders demonstrates the “cozy” relationship South Africa has had with the group over the years, which the sources said helps explain why the ANC-led government decided to accuse Israel of genocide in the International Court of Justice. last week.

The Israeli government has rejected the claim and instead accused South Africa of becoming the “legal arm of Hamas.”

Israeli Minister Amichai Chikli has claimed that the sitting South African delegation at the ICJ hearings in The Hague included Shawan Jabarin, a ‘peace activist’ accused of links to the terrorist group, the Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Israel accuses the PFLP of taking part in the Hamas-led attacks.

Mr Chikli posted on

Israeli sources have criticized South Africa for allowing Hamas leaders to visit their country after the October 7 attack.

Basem Naim, a leader in Hamas political office, led the December delegation to South Africa, which also included the group’s representative in Iran, Ali Al-Qaddumi.

The group visited the South African parliament and politicians from the African National Congress, and also held a press conference in memory of the country’s former president, Nelson Mandela.

They also met Mandla Mandela, Mandela’s grandson, at a ceremony at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the seat of the South African government.

It also emerged that South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor spoke with Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh days after the October 7 attack.

The Foreign Ministry later clarified that the conversation was not intended to express support for Hamas, but to reaffirm the government’s solidarity with the Palestinian people.

A statement from the ministry said: “Minister Pandor and the Hamas leader (Haniyeh) discussed how to bring necessary humanitarian aid to Gaza and other parts of the Palestinian territories.”

The South African government’s apparent support for Hamas has divided both politicians and the public, as two victims of the October 7 attacks were Jews of South African nationality.