Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2015-10-19
The African National Congress (ANC) has vowed to build a long lasting relationship with Palestinian group Hamas to share a common goal for the ultimate freedom of Palestine and the Palestinian people.
Hamas’ political and decision making body led by Khalid Mish’al is visiting South Africa to engage with the leadership of the ANC on the party’s shared vision of self-determination for the Palestinian people.
The ruling party and Hamas signed a letter of intent at Luthuli House in Johannesburg on Monday committing to work together against the occupation of Palestine by Apartheid Israel.
Secretary General of the ANC Gwede Mantashe says channels of communication will be opened in strengthening the relationship between the two parties.
“We are starting a relationship with Hamas…we are happy today we are together, we are formally formalizing our relationship.”
“We’ll exchange delegations, we’ll share experiences, and we’ll talk to each other regularly. We are discussing whether Hamas shouldn’t open an office in South Africa so we can talk,” Manstashe said.
Manstashe says the brutality of Israel on Palestine is well known and requires stepping up of solidarity and the struggle in Palestine itself.
He emphasized the issue of an armed struggle was not discussed during the meeting with Hamas.
“It was not on the table, we never had a discussion. If fact it was never raised by us, it was not raised by Hamas itself. Our understanding is that we said we’ll share the knowledge and practice with Hamas based on our own experience which is the struggle must be driven by the parties involved.”
Leader of Hamas Khalid Mish’al welcomed the ANC’s invitation to build a long lasting relationship and says the party is ready to join forces with other Palestinian factions including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in uniting the Palestinian people to take them from occupation to freedom.
Mish’al says they have mutually agreed on issues with the ANC that would show the party’s full solidarity to the just cause of the Palestinian people.
“Nothing was imposed on the ANC leadership. On the contrary we have full confidence in their solidarity and their support for the Palestinian cause.”
Asked about Hamas official stance on ISIS, Mish’al says the party is against all forms of extremism.
“We are in principle, we say it so clear…be inside the Arab world, Muslim world or any place in the world, extremism has no religion.”
Mish’al says Hamas is against killing any innocent people under the context of disputes on religion and race.
“We adapt the moderate form of Islam, the real Islam which is open to all with mercy and sincerity,” Mish’al said.
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