Israeli firm sends unannounced flight carrying 153 Palestinians from Gaza to South Africa

Civil society groups in South Africa have accused Israel of orchestrating the forced migration of Palestinians from Gaza after hundreds of refugees arrived on “mysterious” flights at OR Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg. 

Humanitarian organizations reported that the first flight, which arrived late last month, carried 176 Palestinians, while a second flight, after stopping in Nairobi, brought 153 more.

However, South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA) initially denied entry to the second group due to missing immigration documents and the absence of exit stamps from Israel, leaving the refugees stranded on the tarmac for nearly 12 hours.

President Cyril Ramaphosa intervened, allowing the refugees to enter the country, stating that out of compassion and empathy, they could not be turned away.

Pastor and social justice activist Nigel Branken, who assisted the refugees, revealed that many Palestinians were fooled by a website promising evacuation from Gaza.

He said they had paid between $1,500 and $5,000, desperate to escape the conflict, without knowing their final destination. Some were led to believe they were going to Indonesia or Malaysia, but instead ended up in South Africa. Branken also highlighted that the first group had left behind essential belongings and received no official exit documents from Israel.

The Palestinian embassy in Pretoria warned citizens in Gaza to be cautious of unofficial organizations, advising them to engage only with legitimate representatives. Meanwhile, South African advocacy groups accused Israel of being directly involved in the displacement of Palestinians.

Iqbal Jassat of Media Review Network called the process a “systematic campaign of ethnic cleansing,” noting the dangerous journey through militarized areas of Gaza to reach Ramon Airport in Israel.

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Humanitarian groups, including the Gift of the Givers Foundation, echoed these concerns, describing the evacuation as part of Israel’s ongoing efforts to forcibly remove Palestinians from their homeland.

Imtiaz Sooliman detailed the devastating impact on civilians, including the destruction of hospitals and targeting of healthcare workers, and described the forced flights as a continuation of Israel’s broader strategy of displacement.

South African academics and civil society members further criticized the role of Al-Majid Europe, the organization facilitating the evacuations, claiming it misled refugees about their destinations.

Many passengers were unaware of where they were being taken, with some holding hotel bookings in India or Malaysia but ultimately arriving in South Africa, underscoring the chaotic and opaque nature of the operation.