Former Johannesburg mayor Thapelo Amad sparked heated arguments by sharing a picture of himself holding a rifle in solidarity with the Palestinian group Hamas, causing controversy.
“We stand with Hamas, Hamas stands with us, together we Palestin [sic] and Palestin [sic] will be free. With our souls, with our blood, we will conquer Al AQSA,” Mr Amad captioned the photo shared on Tuesday, which he has since deleted.
According to certain X users, the image, coupled with the wording in the caption, is perceived as promoting animosity and instigating aggression.
“The text of his tweet is particularly troubling given its militant tone and the implicit support for a group known for its violent tactics,” X user Tim Flack said, adding that he had filed a complaint against Mr Amad with the South African Human Rights Commission.
Several users on the platform have supported Mr. Amad’s statement, although they have noted that the inclusion of the gun in the photo was unnecessary.
