Gaza residents, who mysteriously arrived in South Africa (South Africa) last week, said they had paid US$ 2,000 (Rp. 33.5 million) per seat to fly to the country, leaving the war-torn Palestinian enclave behind.
The flight was arranged by an organization that offers a way out of the Gaza Strip devastated by the war between Israel and Hamas.
On Thursday (13/11) last week, a chartered plane carrying 153 Gaza residents landed in Johannesburg. The Gaza resident was detained for 12 hours on the plane, because he did not have the official documents to enter South Africa, before being allowed to disembark.
South African authorities, as reported ReutersTuesday (18/11/2025), suspected that such flights were part of an effort to expel Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
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Two Palestinians were among those interviewed Reuters said they saw an online advertisement from an organization called Al-Majd Europe offering the opportunity to leave the Gaza Strip. They admitted they registered about six months ago.
The offer is only open to families and requires applicants to have a passport.
When trying to contact that organization, Reuters didn’t get a response. However, according to the two Palestinians, they received a message from Al-Majd Europe via WhatsApp informing them that the security permit had been issued.
They, along with other Palestinians, left the Gaza Strip by bus passing through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom border crossing, before being flown out of Ramon Airport. They arrived in South Africa on November 13.
Of the 153 Gazans who landed in South Africa, 130 of them were processed to enter the country with 90-day visas. Meanwhile, 23 other people continued their flights to their final destination.
South Africa Investigates Mysterious Arrival of Gaza Residents
South Africa’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ronald Lamola, said that his government was investigating what he called the suspicious circumstances of the arrival of the plane carrying many Gaza residents.
“This seems to be a broader agenda to expel Palestinians from the Palestinian territories,” Lamola said at a press conference.
COGAT, the Israeli military agency that oversees civil affairs in Gaza, said the Gazans left after receiving approval from an unnamed third country to receive them, and that they had valid visas.
It was claimed by COGAT that their departure requirements included “documents confirming authorization to land in South Africa”.
However, Lamola said otherwise. “At this stage, the information we have is that they do not have the necessary approvals and permits,” he stressed.
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