Palestinian Who Left Gaza Says Shadowy 'Al‑Majd Europe' Evacuations Were Coordinated with Israeli Military

Man who left Gaza describes organised transfers, alleges Israeli coordination

A Palestinian man who says he left Gaza via a little-known organisation that has flown 153 people to South Africa without documentation told Al Jazeera the operation appeared to operate with "strong coordination" between the group calling itself Al‑Majd Europe and the Israeli military. He spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons.

He described the process as routine: passengers and belongings were thoroughly searched, then moved by bus through southern Gaza to the Karem Abu Salem crossing (referred to by Israelis as Kerem Shalom), into southern Israel and onward to Ramon Airport. At Ramon Airport, he said, Israeli authorities did not stamp passports because Israel does not recognise a Palestinian state.

"There was strong coordination between Al‑Majd Europe and the Israeli army," the man told Al Jazeera.

From Ramon a Romanian aircraft reportedly flew the group to Kenya, which served as a transit point. The man said none of the passengers knew their final destination in advance. He described at least three coordinators working inside Gaza while several Palestinian citizens of Israel handled communications from outside the enclave.

Registration, fees and restrictions

The process began with an online registration and a screening stage. The man said he paid $6,000 to secure travel for himself and two family members and described payments as being made through banking apps to individual accounts rather than to an organisation. Other passengers on a flight to South Africa reportedly paid between $1,500 and $5,000 each. Those who left were allowed to take only a mobile phone, some cash and a backpack.

Al Jazeera also spoke by WhatsApp with a man who identified himself as Omar. He said an Al‑Majd Europe representative told him a passport and birth certificate would be required and requested an initial down payment of $2,500 per person, but his application was later rejected because the group did not accept solo travellers.

Questions about the group and official involvement

Al‑Majd Europe claims to have been founded in Germany in 2010, but its website domain was registered this year and displays AI-generated images of executives with no verifiable contact details or listed office — the site states an address in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood of East Jerusalem. The group's backers and legal status remain unclear.

The Israeli military acknowledged that it had "facilitated" transfers of Palestinians out of Gaza, describing this as part of a wider "voluntary departure" policy supported by Israel and the United States. According to reporting, the Israeli army established a unit in March to encourage and facilitate such departures after receiving approval from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security cabinet.

Why some Gazans consider leaving

Reporting from az‑Zawayda in central Gaza, Al Jazeera's Hind Khoudary said talk of the operation is spreading among Gazans facing dire conditions after two years of bombardment and ground operations. "The living situation is unbearable for many," she said, noting that Gaza's education system has largely collapsed, leaving some families to believe there is no future for their children if they remain.

Note: The claims in the man’s account have not been independently verified. The story reflects eyewitness testimony, statements by those interviewed and official comments acknowledging facilitation of transfers.