South Africa’s Foreign Minister firmly denied allegations that the government had prior knowledge of Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 civilians. The minister labeled these claims as “dangerous lies” meant to damage South Africa’s human rights reputation. The accusations came from Justin Lewis of Casisa, who submitted documents to the US Senate. These allegations have further strained US-South Africa relations amid ongoing tensions.
South Africa’s Foreign Minister has forcefully rejected allegations that the government had prior knowledge of Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. The Minister categorically denied that South African officials were aware of the planned attack that killed 1,200 Israeli civilians and led to 251 hostages being taken.
“These are dangerous lies,” the Minister stated, dismissing claims made by Justin Lewis, a representative of UK-based organization Casisa. Lewis had submitted documents to the US Senate in December 2024 alleging South Africa knew about the attack beforehand.
The Minister labeled these accusations as propaganda aimed at damaging South Africa’s reputation as a human rights defender. The government views these claims as a strategic move to undermine South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Lewis’ letter claimed South Africa enabled Hamas to access international courts including the ICJ and International Criminal Court (ICC) as part of a pre-planned strategy. He also called for sanctions against South Africa for alleged complicity in the October 7 violence.
The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) spokesperson emphasized that no government official had intelligence about the attack. They questioned Lewis’ credibility, noting his involvement in an investigation into South African banks allegedly facilitating $2 trillion in annual illicit money flows through UK tax havens.
The accusations come amid growing tensions between South Africa and Israel following the attack and Israel’s military response in Gaza, which has killed over 50,000 Palestinians. South Africa has taken Israel to the ICJ, accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza.
The allegations have emerged as US-South Africa relations deteriorate. The US has imposed 30% tariffs on South African goods, while Congressman Ronny Jackson has introduced legislation calling for a review of US-South Africa ties, citing the country’s alignment with American adversaries.
The Trump administration had previously cut financial aid to South Africa, referencing the country’s ties with Iran and its ICJ case against Israel. Economic experts warn that US sanctions could severely impact South Africa’s economy and have urged the nation to strengthen trade relationships within Africa. Experts specifically recommend diversifying trading partners to mitigate potential economic fallout from international sanctions.
DIRCO officials maintain that South Africa holds a non-aligned stance in global affairs and acts as a defender of human rights. DIRCO’s spokesperson Chrispin Phiri has officially dismissed these allegations as unverified and baseless, reinforcing the government’s position of denial regarding any Hamas collaboration. They insist the country’s legal actions against Israel are based on principled concerns about human rights violations rather than any collaboration with Hamas.
The Minister concluded that these unfounded accusations are intended to distract from Israel’s actions in Gaza and undermine South Africa’s standing on the international stage as an advocate for justice and human dignity.
Conclusion
South Africa’s minister strongly rejected claims that the government knew about Hamas’ attack on Israel beforehand. These accusations, which spread on social media, were called “dangerous lies” by the minister. South African officials maintain these false rumors aim to damage the country’s reputation. The government continues to advocate for peace while denying any prior knowledge of the October 7 attack.
