Hamas considers its official visit to South Africa earlier this month a success. The trip helped expand communications between the two, called attention to similarities between their struggles and could help Hamas pave the way for alliances elsewhere in its attempt to break the international blockade.

The whole thing made Israel really angry.

The Hamas delegation's visit was busy and conspicuous. The group was welcomed at the Johannesburg airport by African National Congress (ANC) Deputy Secretary-General Jessie Duarte. Khaled Meshaal, head of Hamas' political bureau, met with South African President Jacob Zuma, who signed a memorandum of understanding in support of the Palestinian cause. The delegation also met with members of the ruling ANC and South African organizations that support Palestine, such as Al-Aqsa Foundation of South Africa.

At a mosque in Pretoria, Meshaal compared the Palestinian cause with the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Hamas’ visit concluded with a dinner attended by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe.