WATCH: ‘Shoot to kill’- Malema compares Hamas to Mandela and Tambo

EFF leader Julius Malema has compared Gaza group Hamas to anti-apartheid activists like Nelson Mandela and Oliver Tambo, drawing outrage and possible action by the SA Jewish Board of Deputies.

Malema’s party held a picket at the Israeli Embassy in Pretoria on Monday in solidarity with the people of Palestine.

Addressing a crowd at the march, Malema urged Hamas to “shoot to kill”.

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“Don’t kiss the enemy. Why do you want to kiss the enemy?” he asked, adding the “people of Palestine have nothing to lose but their chains”.

He compared Hamas to anti-apartheid activists such as Mandela, Oliver Tambo, and Steve Biko, saying they also fought for liberation.

“He was shooting to kill, to liberate you. He did exactly what Hamas is doing. O.R. Tambo did the same thing. Chris Hani did the same thing. Winnie Mandela did the same thing. Steve Biko did the same thing. There is nothing wrong with what Hamas is doing,” he added.

“Mr Malema prides himself on causing division among fellow South Africans, using his trademark hateful rhetoric.

“Julius Malema has been remarkably quiet for the past two weeks but choose now to associate freedom fighters with rape, murder of babies and kidnapping. We differ with this interpretation as we have never seen any evidence to suggest that such tactics were used by South African freedom fighters,” National Chairperson Prof Karen Milner told The Citizen.

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Milner said the board was “keeping all options on the table” in responding to Malema.

“Fortunately, we have laws locally and internationally that prohibit incitement and threats to violence.”

‘Israeli embassy must close’

In his address, Malema said, if elected, his party would remove the Israeli embassy from South Africa. It echoed a similar call from ANC deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane. Speaking during the ANC’s own protest last week, Mokonyane said the embassy should close its doors.

300 strikes on Gaza

Israel said it had launched more than 300 strikes in 24 hours on the Gaza region, AFP reported on Monday.

According to the region’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 4,650 have been killed in Gaza, around 40% of them children, since Israel’s retaliation to an October 7 attack by Hamas. The latest conflict has seen crucial infrastructure and resources destroyed and more than a million displaced.