Public figures condemn Hamas

Most South Africans are appalled at the massacre of, at the time of writing, more than 1 200 Jews in Israel at the hands of Hamas last weekend, the injuring of more than 2 900, and the kidnapping of more than 100 others. The following people sent messages to us for the people of Israel and the world Jewish community:

Gareth Cliff – radio personality

Just like so many people around the world who have expressed solidarity with Israel and the South African Jewish community in the wake of this horrific and disgraceful attack on free citizens of the state of Israel, I send my love, support, and friendship. I’ve been a supporter of Israel since long before these tragic and terrible events, and I shall be one for long afterwards.

Gayton McKenzie – Patriotic Alliance leader

The horror of seeing children being dragged from houses has rendered the saying “safe as houses” useless.

Young people being shot and killed in cold blood, parents learning about the death of their kids on national television, these are the horrors that people in Israel have been exposed to.

No political aim, no ideology exist where children are the victims, unless you represent the worst evil.

Jewish people said, “Never again” after the Holocaust, but “never again” happened. My deepest and most sincerest condolences to the people of Israel and everyone from other countries who have been killed like a dog.

Tony Leon – the first leader of the Democratic Alliance

I’m a supporter of a two-state solution in Israel. Hamas believes in the destruction of Israel. Its action is reminiscent of the Nazi Holocaust and pogroms. More than 260 people murdered at a music festival. Women and children murdered and kidnapped. Rapes. And the department of international relations and cooperation/African National Congress (ANC) has no issue with it.

The South African government and ANC response is utterly predictable, and has less to do with the Middle East of which it has an understanding rooted in its deeply entrenched anti-Western world view and more to do with its misconceived struggle notions.

There will be time when this crisis passes to demand accountability, as Israelis will doubtless do, of the epic governance, military, and intelligence failures which led to this debacle and dark days for the state of Israel. We wish it strength and courage.

Geordin Hill-Lewis – Cape Town mayor

I utterly condemn the shocking events and senseless violence in southern Israel. My heart goes out to the families and the innocent victims of these attacks, and on every side of the ongoing Middle Eastern conflict. I pray for an end to the war, and for the state of Israel and the state of Palestine to live side by side in peace.

Andreas Peschke – German ambassador to South Africa

We are very worried about the situation in the Middle East. We stand in solidarity with the state of Israel. We are concerned and strongly condemn the terrorist attacks by Hamas. These attacks must stop. Israel has every right to defend itself, and we stand with our friends in Israel.

Emma Powell – DA shadow minister of international relations and cooperation

The Democratic Alliance (DA) condemns Hamas’ unprovoked attack on Israeli territory during the religious holiday of Simchat Torah.

The DA urgently calls on the department of international relations and cooperation to condemn this unprovoked attack unequivocally, and join the international community in its call for an immediate end to the rapidly escalating violence.

The DA condemns this senseless violence and all acts of terror against innocent civilians, women, and children, and calls for aggressors in this conflict to withdraw immediately.

We stand united with the global community in our call for the release of Israeli civilians who are being held hostage across several cities in the south of Israel.

The DA continues to support a viable and sustainable two-state solution based on United Nations Security Council resolutions 242 and 338. While we recognise the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, we equally recognise the right of the Israeli state to defend herself and her people.

We urge all parties to this historic conflict to return to the negotiating table to find a mutually agreed pathway to lasting peace.

Barry Schwartzberg – Discovery

We are survivors.

The fact that we are here today as practising Jews is testament to the resilience and strength of our people. We have overcome countless challenges throughout history, from the destruction of our temples, to the Spanish Inquisition, to the Holocaust. We have made it through, and now it’s incumbent on us to continue our traditions so that future generations can similarly survive.

To be survivors means never giving up hope, even in the face of adversity. It means staying true to our values and beliefs, and ensuring that Israel remains a Jewish state. I condemn the horrific terrorist attacks on our fellow Jews. This is unprecedented, but it won’t break us.

To be survivors, we must stand united and protect what’s most precious to us: our faith, our family, and our homeland.

Mmusi Maimane – Build One South Africa leader

We’re deeply concerned that this weekend’s attack has struck a mortal blow to the peace process and the normalisation of relations between countries in the Middle East.

When the fog of war clears, we call on all parties to negotiate a lasting peace in the Middle East that recognises the rights of Palestinians to sovereignty and guarantees the right of Israel to live in peace with secure borders within a two-state solution.