GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The parliamentary delegation of Hamas’ Change and Reform Bloc concluded its official visit to South Africa Dec. 6 after signing a memorandum of understanding with the African National Congress (ANC), the ruling parliamentary bloc in South Africa.
The delegation, headed by Mahmoud al-Zahar, held a number of meetings with governmental, civil and legal institutions, during which means of supporting the Palestinian cause were discussed. Head of the ANC Jackson Mthembu declared his country’s support for the Palestinian people’s right to freedom and condemned the Israeli actions against the Palestinians.
The parliamentary visit comes after Egypt agreed Nov. 21 that Hamas officials use the Rafah crossing on the Egyptian-Palestinian border following its five-year near constant closure into Egypt.
On Nov. 27, South Africa disinvited Israeli researchers from an academic conference — "Recognition, Reparation, Reconciliation" — at the University of Stellenbosch. Seven academics from three Israeli universities were supposed to take part in the conference on Dec. 5-9. According to Haaretz, supporters of the Israeli boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement said the Nationality Law was the reason the invitation was withdrawn, as the law grants Jews alone the right to self-determination in the country.
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