South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor is threatening to imprison citizens who join the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) or otherwise assist Israel in its campaign against Hamas in Gaza. This new policy deepens the growing rift between the two nations, which has so far seen South Africa charge Israel with genocide and pledge to arm Hamas.
“I have already issued a statement alerting those who are South African and are fighting alongside or in the Israeli Defense Forces: We are ready,” Pandor said to thunderous applause from members of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party. “When you come home, we are going to arrest you.”
Pandor also encouraged pro-Palestine protests outside the embassies of “the five primary supporters” of Israel’s military actions, which likely includes the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany, among others.
Learn the benefits of becoming a Valuetainment Member and subscribe today!
The minister’s comments mark the latest escalation in tensions between Israel and South Africa in the wake of the October 7th Hamas attacks. As Israel’s ground campaign in Gaza continues, South Africa is rallying to the Palestinian cause, recalling its ambassadors from Tel Aviv and urging global boycotts of Israeli goods. The pushback against Israel culminated in South Africa filing accusations of genocide with the International Court of Justice in a case that may be pending for years to come.
In December, the foreign ministry threatened to strip South African citizenship from any dual citizens found to be aiding the IDF in any capacity and promised prosecution if they had not obtained proper authorization to leave the country.
In an apparent hardening of the government’s stance, Pandor also urged listeners to recall that Palestinian rebel groups had trained ANC members to fight against apartheid in South Africa.
“We didn’t meet the Palestinian people on October 8th, we’ve been together in the struggle for many decades,” she said. “The people of Palestine trained the freedom fighters of the liberation movement. This is a relationship of freedom fighters, of activists, of nations that share a history. A history of struggle for justice and freedom.”
This sentiment has also been expressed by radical opposition party leader Julius Malema, who promised to supply Hamas with weapons and ammunition just after the October 7th attacks. Malema has, ironically, endorsed an anti-White genocide in his own country and proudly stands in solidarity with Vladimir Putin.
Related: South African Radical Julius Malema Vows to “Arm Hamas” When His Party Takes Power
Israel has vehemently rejected the genocide accusations and, in a rare move, intends to defend itself from South Africa’s “absurd blood libel” in the ICJ.
According to the latest casualty reports, Israeli operations in Gaza have killed over 31,000 people—mostly civilians—and displaced nearly 2.3 million more.
Connor Walcott is a staff writer for Valuetainment.com. Follow Connor on X and look for him on VT’s “The Unusual Suspects.”
Add comment