South African minister: We're not friends of Hamas
Justice Minister says accusations of a close relationship with Hamas are 鈥榗onspiracies鈥�
South Africa has been 鈥榲ery clear we are not friends of Hamas鈥�, the country鈥檚 Justice Minister told the 大象传媒. Ronald Lamola told the HARDtalk programme that South Africa鈥檚 鈥榖ilateral relations are with the state of Palestine. There鈥檚 no confusion about that鈥�.
When asked by Stephen Sackur about Israel鈥檚 accusations that by bringing a case of genocide against Israel to the International Court of Justice, the South African government is 鈥榗ooperating with a terrorist organization鈥� Mr Lamola responded: 鈥楾hey are just using such kinds of words or conspiracies to blackmail us not to take action to protect the fundamental human rights of the children, the women, of Palestine.鈥�
Speaking from Johannesburg, Mr Lamola, who opened South Africa鈥檚 charge against Israel in the ICJ, said the government was obliged to bring the case. 鈥榃e have got an international obligation, standing on the Genocide Convention, on the shoulders of our former and founding president Nelson Mandela, who participated in ensuring we are part of the signatories of the Genocide Convention鈥o ensure that no one in the world or any vulnerable people suffer when we can be able to invoke the contents, and bring to life the Genocide Convention.鈥�
