South Africa is investigating how Palestinians flown to South Africa on a chartered flight from Gaza ended up stranded on a Johannesburg runway before they gained entry. Officials want to know who organised the trip. They also want to know whether families faced exploitation.
Charter Flight Sparks Stand-Off
A group of 153 Palestinians flown to South Africa arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on a charter flight via Kenya. Many had fled war in Gaza and landed without departure stamps, return tickets or confirmed accommodation. Because none applied for asylum, border officials initially refused them entry. They kept everyone on the aircraft for nearly 12 hours.
Authorities later ordered the group to disembark after a local humanitarian organisation stepped in with accommodation and support. By then, 23 passengers had left for other countries. Meanwhile, 130 Palestinians flown to South Africa received 90-day visa exemptions. President Cyril Ramaphosa said the state acted out of compassion. However, he stressed that officials still need to understand where the journey started and why the organiser chose South Africa.
Shadowy Organiser Under Scrutiny
At the centre of the controversy stands Al-Majd Europe. This organisation advertises evacuations from conflict zones and now faces accusations of pushing Palestinians out of Gaza. Families say they paid high fees per person. Children were charged the same as adults. Tight baggage and cash limits left many travellers feeling exposed. They became dependent on fixers.
The Palestinian embassy in South Africa has called the organiser an unregistered and misleading body. They accused it of exploiting Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and arranging the journey in an irregular way.
Questions Over Route and Documents
Passengers travelled by bus from Rafah in southern Gaza to a crossing where officials conducted security checks. Afterward, they moved the group to an airport. They say authorities did not stamp their documents. This helps explain why border staff in Johannesburg later flagged missing exit records. From there, the group flew via Nairobi before Palestinians flown to South Africa landed in Johannesburg.
Ramaphosa says multiple agencies now study the full picture. For the 130 Palestinians flown to South Africa, the immediate crisis has eased. However, their long-term future still looks uncertain while the probe continues.
