🔗 Share this article

The nation's leader Cyril Ramaphosa has stated that an investigation will be launched into the unexplained appearance of a leased jet transporting 153 Palestinians from Gaza into the nation.

Primary Admission Rejection

The passengers arrived at OR Tambo International Airport but were at first refused entry and remained in the jet for more than 10 hours as they "did not have the customary exit markings in their passports", airport representatives confirmed.

Most were eventually granted entry after support from a domestic humanitarian organization and because of the administration's "compassion [and] sympathy", Ramaphosa stated.

The particulars of their departure from Gaza and flight to South Africa continue to be mysterious.

Diplomatic Context

The nation has maintained firm backing for the Palestinian cause throughout the hostilities between the Hamas organization and Israel in the Gaza Strip.

Ramaphosa stated the group "in some way mysteriously were put on a plane that stopped in Nairobi" and flew to the nation.

"These individuals left the Gaza Strip after obtaining approval from a third country to welcome them," announced an government agency that oversees Gaza's border points.

Official Comment

Per the official representation in South Africa, the group departed from a facility in Israel and flew to the nation via the Kenyan capital, "lacking advance notification or planning".

A announcement from the official office said "an unauthorized and deceptive group [had] exploited the tragic living situation of our citizens in Gaza, misled households, took payments from them, and arranged their journey in an irregular and reckless fashion".

Latest Status

Of the 153 passengers, 23 succeeded to travel to alternative places, leaving 130 who were granted entry into the nation, national representatives confirm.

Ramaphosa, talking during an gathering in the city, stated he was notified of the unfolding crisis by the home affairs minister.

In response, the head of state declared "we must not send them away", according to domestic news.

"Even though they are without the appropriate identification and records, these are people from a war-ravaged, a violence-plagued nation," he continued.

Official Response

The head of state also informed media representatives the country's leadership would perform a "thorough assessment" of the matter and inform the public on "current developments and how this case came to be in its current state", per national media.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said that while individuals with Palestinian documents were eligible for 90-day visa-exempt access to South Africa, the lack of exit markings, round-trip fares or housing locations in certain of the travellers' documentation resulted in the first rejection to allow them into the territory.

After it was determined that the absence of this information "did not indicate that the travellers intended to apply for asylum" and their lodging was verified, they were granted entry.

"All of the individuals are in possession of valid travel documents and, now, none of them have sought refuge," he confirmed.

Humanitarian Efforts

Domestic aid group has said it will provide the group with accommodation in the nation.

Community groups in the nation have called for investigations into the circumstances the Palestinian nationals had escaped in the Gaza Strip and the precise path of the plane.

One of the travelers who was interviewed by South African news shared his relief to be in South Africa, describing it as a country of "peace, laws and equity".

"We traveled from the Gaza Strip where we've experienced death on regularly. We have endured a hostilities of two years and we are lucky to be in this place," said one man who had fled with his wife and offspring.

Criticism and Calls for Investigation

The aid foundation has since called for Ramaphosa to examine the interior department and border authority for the "embarrassment they've caused" the travelers.

The foundation's leader said this conduct consisted of being made to stay for a long time on the airport area at the facility, being denied nourishment offered by the organization and "employing various justifications in the manual to block these travelers from disembarking".

Long-standing Advocacy

South Africa has been highly critical of Israel's armed campaign in the Gaza Strip.

The nation's sympathy for the Palestinian struggle for an sovereign nation dates back decades, especially the beginning of the 1990s when anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela committed support for the Palestinian cause.

Substantial in favor of Palestinian rights demonstrations have been organized throughout the country since the conflict began.

More limited in favor of Israeli policies rallies and events have been held in the nation, which contains the largest Jewish population in sub-Saharan Africa.

In last year, the national administration submitted a lawsuit against the Israeli government with the world court, charging it of systematic destruction in Gaza. The nation has firmly denied the allegation, calling it "without foundation".