South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced an investigation into the sudden arrival of a chartered plane carrying 153 Palestinians from Gaza. The flight landed at OR Tambo International Airport, where the passengers faced entry issues due to a lack of customary departure stamps in their passports. They were stuck on the plane for over 10 hours.
Local charity intervention and a show of empathy from the South African government led to most of the group being allowed entry, while some had already departed to other destinations. Ramaphosa expressed that turning the group back was not an option given their background from a war-torn country.
The origins of their flight to South Africa remain unclear, prompting further scrutiny from civil societies regarding how they were transported from Gaza.
According to Israeli authorities, the group left via Israel's Ramon Airport with permission from a third country, which was not explicitly stated. The Palestinian embassy in South Africa described the mishap as a result of an unregistered organization misleading families and complicating their travel arrangements.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber stated the initial entry refusal stemmed from travelers lacking necessary documentation but clarified that this was not indicative of asylum intentions. The travelers eventually received approval for entry and will be assisted by the Gift of the Givers charity.
This incident underscores South Africa’s long-standing political stance supportive of Palestinian rights, dating back to Nelson Mandela's era. Despite facing criticism, South Africa continues to vocalize its opposition to Israeli actions during the ongoing conflict, recently filing cases against Israel at international legal forums.
Local charity intervention and a show of empathy from the South African government led to most of the group being allowed entry, while some had already departed to other destinations. Ramaphosa expressed that turning the group back was not an option given their background from a war-torn country.
The origins of their flight to South Africa remain unclear, prompting further scrutiny from civil societies regarding how they were transported from Gaza.
According to Israeli authorities, the group left via Israel's Ramon Airport with permission from a third country, which was not explicitly stated. The Palestinian embassy in South Africa described the mishap as a result of an unregistered organization misleading families and complicating their travel arrangements.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber stated the initial entry refusal stemmed from travelers lacking necessary documentation but clarified that this was not indicative of asylum intentions. The travelers eventually received approval for entry and will be assisted by the Gift of the Givers charity.
This incident underscores South Africa’s long-standing political stance supportive of Palestinian rights, dating back to Nelson Mandela's era. Despite facing criticism, South Africa continues to vocalize its opposition to Israeli actions during the ongoing conflict, recently filing cases against Israel at international legal forums.
