South Africa Palestinians third-country approval
Israeli authorities say that the 153 Palestinians who landed unexpectedly in South Africa last week had received entry approval from a third country, though they did not name which country.
According to COGAT, the Israeli civil affairs body, the Palestinians were only allowed to leave Gaza after Israel received confirmation from another country that it would receive them.
When the chartered plane landed at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South African border police kept the passengers onboard for nearly 12 hours. The delay was because many did not have the usual exit stamps from Israel in their passports, raising red flags.
Eventually, South Africa’s Home Affairs Ministry allowed 130 of the passengers to disembark, while 23 others continued their journey to different countries. A local NGO, Gift of the Givers, pledged to provide accommodation for them, and they were granted 90-day visa exemptions on humanitarian grounds.
President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed concern over the arrival, suggesting it “does seem like they were being flushed out” of Gaza. He said South Africa would probe the circumstances more closely.
Meanwhile, Palestinian authorities praised South Africa’s decision to let the group in, calling it a “sovereign” act of compassion. However, questions remain about how the flight was organized. The Palestinian embassy in South Africa has accused an “unregistered and misleading organisation” of exploiting families in Gaza, saying they arranged the flight without proper coordination.
Some of the Palestinians say they did not know where they were ultimately going. One passenger, Loay Abu Saif, told reporters that the journey lasted more than 24 hours and involved a plane change. According to him, the group applied via a form circulated on social media by a group called Al-Majd Europe, which apparently promised relocation but offered little clarity once people were selected.
Israel, for its part, defended its role by saying it only facilitated the departures for people who already had visas or approval from the third country. COGAT noted that it helps Gaza residents leave when they qualify for example, for medical treatment, because they hold dual nationality, or when they already have visa clearance.
Back in South Africa, the investigation is underway, led by intelligence services and the Home Affairs Ministry. Ramaphosa emphasized that the group would not simply be sent back.
