South African Friends of Israel said today it has learned that two elderly South African women are among more than 200 held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
In a press statement SAFI calls on Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor to use her apparent “direct line” to Hamas to urgently pursue the release of the women. Pandor controversially held a telephone conversation with the leader of Hamas 10 days after they launched a deadly attack on Israeli civilians.
The South Africa women hostages are both Jewish and are aged 62 and 79. The algemeiner reports that they were abducted from two separate kibbutzim. The 62-year-old was seized in the attack on Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Lying on the border with the Gaza Strip, the kibbutz was home to 400 residents prior to the Hamas massacre, in which up to 100 of them were murdered, including several children. The 79-year-old was taken during the attack on nearby Kibbutz Nirim, where Hamas terrorists fired indiscriminately at residents while setting homes alight.
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The names of the two South African women have not been released at the request of their families.
“Hostage-taking constitutes a grave breach in international law and adds to the litany of Hamas’ war crimes to date,” says SAFI in its press statement.
The statement continues: “Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor called the Hamas terrorist organisation, immediately after their unspeakable atrocities and hostage taking, to express her solidarity and support. After pressure and controversy, Pandor then backtracked and claimed that she only called to express her wish for peace. To our knowledge, Pandor has so far refused to engage with democratic Israel or show any goodwill towards the Jewish State.
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“If Minister Pandor, and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), are truly interested in peace, they should now step in speedily and play an active role in securing the release of the South African hostages, alongside all the others. Pandor appears to have a direct line to Hamas, and instead of offering support and solidarity, should be prioritising the urgent release of those held against their will in Gaza.
“SAFI calls on DIRCO to do everything in its power to emancipate the South African and other hostages,, as well as unequivocally condemn the heinous Hamas atrocities that led to the worst single attack on the Jewish People since the Holocaust.
“SAFI will continue to engage with DIRCO daily with the aim of freeing the South Africans and other hostages held in captivity. SAFI stands with these citizens, their families and friends and will do everything in its power to ensure their safe return. It’s time the South African government did the same.”
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