The South African government continues to exhibit blatant double standards and hypocrisy in its handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Recently, when Israeli authorities, supported by the international community, reported the recovery of the bodies of five Israelis and one American by Israeli soldiers, the South African government, predictably, remained silent, refusing to denounce the atrocities committed by Hamas.
One of the reasons for this stance lies in the African National Congress’s (ANC) close ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran, a regime known for being the principal sponsor of terrorism against Israel, often through proxy groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. This relationship skews the government’s ability to distinguish between right and wrong, further contributing to its hypocritical position. It is no secret that Iran seeks the destruction of the State of Israel, and yet South Africa aligns itself with a country that embraces hostility over peace, intolerance over tolerance, and instability over stability.
When the world was shocked by the brutal Hamas attack on the morning of October 7, 2023, many countries immediately condemned the killings, torture, kidnappings, and other horrific acts committed by Hamas. However, the South African government remained silent, withholding any statement of condemnation. It was only after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded in an attempt to rescue the kidnapped Israelis that South Africa’s government finally reacted—but instead of denouncing Hamas’s initial attack, it criticized Israel’s defensive measures. This raises the obvious question: isn’t this hypocrisy in its purest form?
During my stay in Israel on April 13, 2024, when Iran launched 300 missiles and drones toward various regions of Israel, the South African government again failed to speak out against Iran’s blatant act of barbarism, an attack that endangered every living being within the State of Israel. Yet, as soon as Israel retaliates in self-defence, South Africa is often the first to condemn the Jewish state without taking the time to understand the complexities and root causes of the conflict.
Take, for example, Hezbollah, a terrorist group backed by Iran and based in Lebanon, which murdered 12 Israeli Druze children who were merely playing soccer. The South African government, once again, did not utter a word of condemnation, seemingly because the victims were Israeli. This is just one of many incidents highlighting the inconsistency and hypocrisy of South Africa’s foreign policy toward Israel.
Futile endeavour
In an even more striking move, South Africa went so far as to involve Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) through the United Nations, a futile endeavour that will not address the long-standing Israel-Palestine conflict. The issue is far too complex to be resolved through legal channels alone, as it encompasses political, religious, economic, and social dimensions. A legal confrontation will not bring peace; meaningful dialogue is a prerequisite for any hope of achieving stability, tolerance, and reconciliation.
It is also important to recognize that neither side in this conflict is entirely blameless. To suggest that Israel is always right or that Palestine is always wrong is to ignore the nuances of the situation and to prevent the conflict from being resolved. Both parties must take full responsibility for their actions. If we are to be fair, we must first call for the unconditional release of all hostages before any discussions of a ceasefire can begin. This approach acknowledges the pain and suffering experienced by both sides, without falling into the trap of making unfair comparisons.
Given South Africa’s own history of avoiding a potential civil war in the early 1990s, when it shocked the world by choosing the path of reconciliation and compromise, it is particularly disappointing to see its current stance. Though the political transition at the time did not solve all the problems of the black majority, many of whom still suffer from poverty, the leadership at least recognized the need to halt the bloodshed in the townships and villages. Today, South Africa’s approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict stands in stark contrast to the spirit of compromise and peace it once championed.
Defend evil
It does not make sense that a government would not condemn atrocities shown by Hamas, but chooses to defend evil. There are videos taken and distributed by Hamas to instil fear and psychological trauma showing unbearable living conditions under the tunnels in Gaza. Any government that claims to associate with human rights principles will never associate with the evil done by Hamas against innocent people.
South Africa can call for the release of hostages and a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas Conflict.
[Image: Rodolfo Quevenco from Pixabay]
The views of the writer are not necessarily the views of the Daily Friend or the IRR.
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