JOHANNESBURG – The South African government has raised serious concerns over two recent chartered flights carrying Palestinian passengers from Gaza and the West Bank, suggesting they may be part of a deliberate and organized effort by Israel to depopulate Palestinian territories.
On Thursday, 153 Palestinians arrived in Johannesburg aboard a chartered flight, notably without Israeli exit stamps on their passports. This followed a similar flight on October 28, which brought 176 Palestinians to South Africa, as revealed by the humanitarian organization Gift of the Givers.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, addressing a press conference, stated that government agencies are investigating the background and logistics of these flights. He revealed that border police initially detained the passengers onboard for 12 hours before allowing them entry under a standard 90-day visa exemption, following approval from President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Reports indicate that a little-known organization named “Al-Majd” arranged the travel. According to Gift of the Givers, some passengers were misled into believing they were headed to Indonesia, Malaysia, or India. Several individuals claimed they paid around $2,000 each to the group but were not given full details about their destination.
Upon arrival, it was discovered that accommodations had only been booked for one week, and the organizing group ceased all contact with the travelers. The Palestinian embassy in South Africa confirmed that both groups were brought in by an unregistered and deceptive organization exploiting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza for profit.
Minister Lamola declared that South Africa would not accept further such flights, viewing them as part of a broader scheme to forcibly remove Palestinians from their homeland. He emphasized that the government is conducting a full investigation into the matter.
Israel, meanwhile, has claimed that the individuals were allowed to leave Gaza with the approval of a third country. South Africa, a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights, is currently hosting the G20 summit, where the issue is expected to draw international attention.
