PA Warns Gaza Residents of 'Agents of Displacement' After Controversial Flight to South Africa

Palestinian Authority Urges Caution After Palestinians Arrive in South Africa

The Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned Palestinians — particularly those in the Gaza Strip — to be vigilant against networks and intermediaries that may be encouraging or facilitating their forced or coerced removal in ways that align with Israeli interests.

The warning followed the arrival on Friday of a flight from Kenya carrying 153 Palestinians who, according to authorities and passenger accounts, left Gaza without clear destinations or proper travel documents and were detained for about 12 hours while South African officials investigated.

South Africa issues temporary visas; humanitarian groups step in

South Africa, which is pursuing a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), issued 90-day visas to many of the arrivals. South Africa’s Border Management Authority later reported that 130 Palestinians entered the country and that 23 travellers were rerouted to other destinations directly from the airport. Most of those who arrived are expected to seek asylum.

Gift of the Givers, a South African humanitarian organisation, said it is assisting and accommodating the arrivals. Founder Imtiaz Sooliman told public broadcaster SABC that he did not know who chartered the aircraft and that an earlier plane carrying 176 Palestinians landed in Johannesburg on October 28, with some passengers later departing for other countries.

Ministry warning and allegations of misleading practices

“The ministry calls upon our people, especially our people in the Gaza Strip, to exercise caution and not fall prey to human trafficking, to merchants and companies of blood, and to agents of displacement,” the Palestinian ministry said.

The Palestinian embassy in Pretoria said it is working to assist travellers who have "endured over two years of Israeli genocidal war, killing, displacement, and destruction." At the same time, the ministry cautioned that private companies, unofficial groups and unregistered brokers operating inside Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory may be misleading Palestinians and encouraging them to leave.

Passengers’ accounts reported that some people were removed from Gaza, placed on aircraft without passport stamps and sent to third countries, effectively leaving them stranded. These allegations have not been independently verified in full.

Official responses and broader concerns

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office had not issued a response to the incident at the time of reporting. Israeli and U.S. officials have in recent months discussed moving some Gaza residents out of the territory, and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), which manages Gaza crossings, told Israeli media it had obtained approval from an unnamed third country to receive some Palestinians as part of an Israeli policy permitting departures.

Author Antony Loewenstein, writing on issues related to Israel’s security and surveillance industries, said rumours of transit schemes had circulated for weeks and suggested that such operations would require permissions from Israeli authorities and other states. He described the arrangements as opaque and profiting from human misery, calling them a potential form of ethnic cleansing — a view shared by some critics but disputed by others.

Authorities and aid organisations continue to investigate and assist the affected travellers. The Palestinian ministry’s caution highlights concerns about human trafficking, exploitation and coerced migration amid the wider humanitarian crisis in Gaza.