South Africa Bans Palestinian Charter Flights Amid Controversy

Amid rising tensions surrounding recent flights of Palestinians to South Africa, the government refuses further charter flights over suspicions of a cleansing agenda.

South Africa has announced it will no longer accept charter flights carrying Palestinians, following the arrival of 153 passengers from Gaza, which sparked allegations of a broader agenda to displace Palestinians. Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola raised concerns about the intentions behind these flights, suggesting they are part of a scheme to remove Palestinians from their homeland. There have been conflicting reports about the flights' coordination, and South Africa's government is currently investigating the matter. This decision reflect South Africa's longstanding support for the Palestinian cause, heightened in the context of recent conflicts.

South Africa has stated it does not want to receive any more chartered flights carrying Palestinians, marking a controversial shift after the recent arrival of 153 passengers from Gaza.

Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola publicly expressed suspicion, stating that the flight was indicative of a clear agenda to cleanse Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank. This remark has not been officially addressed by Israeli authorities, who claim South Africa had previously consented to accepting the passengers.

The Palestinian embassy reported that the group traveled from Israel's Ramon Airport to South Africa via Nairobi without prior coordination. They accused an unregistered and misleading organization of exploiting the crisis in Gaza by deceiving families and facilitating irregular travel.

Upon arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, the passengers faced significant delays, being initially denied entry for lacking proper departure stamps. Ultimately, 130 were permitted entry with assistance from a local charity. President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the decision was made out of empathy and compassion.

Lamola emphasized concerns that the arrival of Palestinians seemed orchestrated as part of a wider evacuation scheme, hinting at other countries involved in accepting such flights.

South Africa's history of supporting Palestinian rights dates back decades, finding roots in anti-apartheid sentiments. Recent protests in support of Palestine have surged in response to the ongoing conflict, contributing to heightened tensions in South Africa's political landscape regarding Israel.