South Africa has allowed 153 Palestinians to enter the country under a special 90-day emergency visa waiver after the group arrived unexpectedly aboard a chartered aircraft from Kenya with incomplete travel documentation. The passengers landed at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Thursday, where they remained confined to the tarmac for more than 12 hours as immigration officials questioned the absence of Israeli exit stamps in their passports—an omission South African authorities described as highly unusual.
The Ministry of Home Affairs authorised temporary entry after humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers committed to providing immediate accommodation and welfare support. Officials later confirmed that 130 of the 153 travellers elected to remain in South Africa, while 23 continued onward to other destinations after securing short-term entry permission.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said the circumstances of their journey suggested that the group had been “flushed out of Gaza” under unclear conditions, noting that their arrival route—via Nairobi on a privately chartered flight—raised significant questions.
“These are people from Gaza who somehow mysteriously were put on a plane that passed by Nairobi and came here,” Ramaphosa said, adding that the government had launched an inquiry into how the passengers were moved across multiple borders.
The developments have drawn a mixed response—international praise on humanitarian grounds but also heightened concern over illicit migration networks. Palestinian diplomats in Pretoria welcomed the move as a “sovereign act of compassion”, thanking South Africa for its continued solidarity. At the same time, the Palestinian foreign ministry condemned the role of unregistered groups alleged to have coordinated the travel, accusing them of exploiting displaced families for profit.
According to the Palestinian embassy, both the newly arrived group and an earlier cohort of 176 Palestinians evacuated in October were misled by an unauthorised entity that collected fees and arranged irregular transit. Palestinian officials have urged families to avoid unverified relocation schemes, warning that those responsible for trafficking or deception would face prosecution.
South Africa has been outspoken on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, having filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December 2023. According to Gaza health authorities, more than 69,000 Palestinians have been killed and over 170,000 injured since October 2023.
The Home Affairs investigation—now supported by law enforcement—is expected to examine potential human trafficking, document fraud, and the identity of the intermediaries who organised the Palestinians’ journey. Authorities say the passengers will receive support during their 90-day stay while the inquiry continues.
Source:Africa Publicity
