South Africa has stated it will no longer welcome chartered flights carrying Palestinians, expressing concerns about the implications of such arrivals. This announcement follows the arrival of 153 Palestinians from Gaza, which has sparked controversy and raised suspicions regarding a potential agenda aiming to displace Palestinians from their homeland.
South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola claims that the arrival of these Palestinians is part of:
a clear agenda to cleanse Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank.
Although Israel has not responded directly to these allegations, its representatives claim that the South African government previously agreed to accept the stranded passengers. The Palestinian embassy in South Africa indicated that the group arrived without prior coordination from local authorities, stating that an unregistered organization had exploited their situation.
Upon the initial landing at OR Tambo International Airport, passengers faced denial of entry for not having valid departure stamps, leading to a delay of over ten hours on the plane. South African authorities eventually allowed 130 of the passengers to disembark after intervention from a local charity. President Cyril Ramaphosa described the action as stemming from empathy and compassion.
This situation reflects South Africa’s long-standing support for the Palestinian cause, a sentiment that dates back to Nelson Mandela’s era, which has intensified in light of ongoing conflicts such as the recent Gaza war.
Further action is being considered by the South African government amid investigations into this flight and the broader implications of such refugee relocations as part of Israel's plans, which have faced international scrutiny.
