South Africa Investigates Arrival of 153 Palestinians Without Travel Documents

South African authorities are investigating the arrival of 153 Palestinians who landed at Johannesburg's OR Tambo International Airport without proper travel documentation. The group arrived on a chartered Global Airways flight from Kenya on Thursday morning and was held on the tarmac for approximately 12 hours due to missing departure stamps, return tickets, and accommodation details.

President Cyril Ramaphosa commented on the situation, stating, "These are people from Gaza who somehow mysteriously were put on a plane that passed by Nairobi and came here." He emphasized that the group was admitted "out of compassion" and that the origins of their journey would be investigated.

The Palestinian embassy in South Africa indicated that the travel arrangements were organized by an "unregistered and misleading organization" that exploited the humanitarian conditions in Gaza, deceived families, collected money, and facilitated irregular travel.

Humanitarian organization Gift of the Givers intervened to provide accommodation and support. Founder Imtiaz Sooliman noted that this was the second plane carrying Palestinians to land in South Africa in the past two weeks. He mentioned that some passengers had visas for countries like Canada, Australia, and Malaysia and were eventually permitted to leave for those destinations.

The incident has sparked debate over South Africa's approach to the Gaza conflict. While the country has been supportive of the Palestinian cause, the prolonged delay on the tarmac led to criticism of the government's response. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber stated that none of the travelers had applied for asylum and that, after ensuring they wouldn't be left destitute, they were granted entry under the standard 90-day visa exemption, subject to compliance with standard conditions.