South Africa on Monday, November 17, expressed deep concern over the unexpected arrival last Thursday of 153 Palestinians at Johannesburg’s airport, describing the incident as part of what it believes is a broader attempt to expel Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank.
The passengers landed on a chartered flight without Israeli departure stamps, with reports linking their travel to a shadowy organisation known as Al-Majd. Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said the government remains suspicious of the circumstances surrounding the flight, noting that a previous group of 176 Palestinians had quietly arrived on 28 October.
Authorities held the latest group on the aircraft for 12 hours before President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised their entry under South Africa’s 90-day visa exemption policy.
The humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers, which is assisting the arrivals, said many passengers had been misled about their destination, believing they were travelling to countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia or India. Several reported paying around $2,000 to Al-Majd and later found that promised accommodation in South Africa had only been arranged for a week, with the organisation cutting contact upon their arrival. Some now intend to apply for asylum.
The Palestinian embassy in Pretoria condemned Al-Majd as an unregistered and exploitative outfit that took advantage of desperate families in Gaza. Israeli authorities told AFP that the departure of the 153 Palestinians had been approved after a third country agreed to receive them, though they did not specify which. Lamola said South Africa is investigating the matter as the country prepares to host world leaders at the upcoming G20 summit, reaffirming its longstanding support for the Palestinian cause and its ongoing 2023 genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.