The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has welcomed the resolution adopted at the 54th National Conference of the African National Congress (ANC) which calls for downgrading South Africa’s diplomatic relations with Israel.
The final declaration of the conference said: “Delegates endorsed the proposal that we must give practical support to the oppressed people of Palestine and resolved on an immediate and unconditional downgrade of the SA embassy in Israel to a liaison office”.
Responding to the move the spokesman of Hamas Fawzi Barhoum said in a press statement on Thursday: “We commend the members branches provinces and other structures of the ANC for this determined decision which expresses the solidarity of millions of South Africans with the people and struggle of Palestine.”
The ANC resolution at the just-ended conference followed a great deal of debate sparked by a recommendation of the ANC’s policy conference in July which called for the South African embassy in Tel Aviv to either be shut down or downgraded.
The ANC also condemned the US President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel and called on Trump to retract his unjust decision.
