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South Africa launches investigation into arrival of 153 Palestinians from Gaza
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced an inquiry on Friday into the unexplained arrival of a chartered flight carrying 153 Palestinians from Gaza, who were initially denied entry at OR Tambo International Airport due to irregular travel documents. The group endured a 10-hour ordeal confined to the aircraft before authorities permitted most to enter the country following intervention by a local charity and government officials.
Unclear departure and transit details
The circumstances surrounding the Palestinians' departure from Gaza and their journey to South Africa remain shrouded in ambiguity. According to News24, Ramaphosa described their transit as "mysterious," noting the flight passed through Nairobi en route to Johannesburg. The Palestinian embassy in South Africa confirmed the group departed from Israel's Ramon Airport via Kenya, "without any prior note or coordination."
The Israeli military's Cogat, which oversees Gaza's crossings, stated the travelers left after "receiving approval from a third country"-though it did not specify which nation authorized their exit. Meanwhile, the Palestinian embassy accused an "unregistered and misleading organization" of exploiting Gaza's humanitarian crisis, allegedly deceiving families, collecting funds, and arranging the flight under "irregular and irresponsible" conditions.
Government response and entry conditions
Ramaphosa, addressing reporters in Johannesburg, emphasized South Africa's humanitarian stance:
"We cannot turn them back. Even though they lack the necessary documents, these are people from a war-torn country," he said, citing the government's "empathy and compassion."
President Cyril Ramaphosa, via News24
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber clarified that while Palestinian passport holders typically qualify for 90-day visa-free entry, the absence of departure stamps, return tickets, or local accommodation details in their documents prompted the initial refusal. After verifying the travelers did not intend to seek asylum and confirming their lodging-arranged by the charity Gift of the Givers-authorities admitted 130 individuals. The remaining 23 proceeded to other destinations.
Charity and civil society reactions
Gift of the Givers, which provided accommodation, condemned the treatment of the Palestinians, alleging they were "humiliated" during the 10-hour tarmac delay, denied food, and faced "every excuse" to block disembarkation. Founder Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman called for an investigation into the Home Affairs Ministry and border authorities.
A Palestinian traveler, interviewed by eNCA TV, expressed relief:
"We came from Gaza, where we faced death daily. We survived two years of war and are lucky to be here-a country of peace, laws, and justice."
Broader context: South Africa's stance on Gaza
South Africa has been a vocal critic of Israel's military operations in Gaza, reflecting decades of solidarity with the Palestinian cause. In 2023, Pretoria filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, which Israel dismissed as "baseless." The country's pro-Palestinian sentiment, rooted in its anti-apartheid history, has fueled large protests since the conflict's escalation, though smaller pro-Israel rallies have also occurred.
Next steps
Ramaphosa pledged a "proper evaluation" of the incident, with updates to be shared publicly. Civil society groups have demanded transparency on the Palestinians' flight path and the conditions they fled in Gaza.
