South Africa is looking into how a chartered flight carrying 153 Palestinians from war-torn Gaza suddenly arrived in Johannesburg without prior notice or proper travel documentation.
The group touched down at OR Tambo International Airport but were not allowed to disembark for more than 10 hours because their passports did not contain the usual departure stamps. Authorities were unsure how they had left Gaza or who arranged their travel.
Most of the passengers were later granted entry after humanitarian groups intervened and government officials stepped in on compassionate grounds. However, the route they took out of Gaza and the circumstances that placed them on the aircraft remain unclear, prompting calls for a full investigation.
According to South African officials, the group had flown through Nairobi before arriving in Johannesburg. Their documentation raised immediate red flags — many lacked clear departure records, return tickets or confirmed accommodation — leading immigration officers to initially deny them access into the country.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said he was alerted to the unfolding crisis while it was happening and insisted that the travellers could not simply be sent back. He described them as people fleeing “a strife-torn, war-torn place” who deserved compassion. He also promised a proper review of how the entire situation developed.
Once officials confirmed that the lack of stamps didn’t mean the travellers intended to apply for asylum, and that accommodation had been arranged, the group was cleared to enter the country. A local humanitarian organisation has since taken responsibility for housing them.
Civil society groups have demanded clarity on the travellers’ exact escape route from Gaza and whether they were misled by intermediaries. Some Palestinian representatives in South Africa have accused an unnamed organisation of exploiting desperate families by collecting money and arranging irregular travel.
For the families themselves, the relief was immediate. One man who arrived with his wife and two children said reaching South Africa felt like stepping into “a land of peace, laws and justice” after surviving daily bombardments.
Humanitarian workers say the group endured unnecessary hardship even after landing, including being kept on the tarmac for hours and struggling to access food that had been provided for them.
The incident comes at a time when South Africa continues to show strong support for Palestinians, a stance rooted in decades-long solidarity dating back to the anti-apartheid era. The country has been vocal about the suffering in Gaza and has seen large public demonstrations calling for an end to the conflict.
Of the original 153 passengers, 23 have already travelled on to other destinations, while 130 remain in South Africa as the investigation begins.