South Africa says an unexpected charter flight that brought 153 Palestinians to Johannesburg appears suspicious and possibly part of a coordinated effort to move people out of Gaza and the West Bank. Passports lacked Israeli departure stamps, passengers were held for 12 hours, and South Africa has opened an investigation. Aid groups say travellers paid roughly $2,000 each to an organisation called Al‑Majd and some were reportedly misled about their final destination. An earlier flight carrying 176 people arrived on Oct. 28; many details remain under investigation.
South Africa Calls 'Suspicious' Charter Flights From Israel Possible Coordinated Effort to Move Palestinians
South Africa says an unexpected charter flight that brought 153 Palestinians to Johannesburg appears suspicious and possibly part of a coordinated effort to move people out of Gaza and the West Bank. Passports lacked Israeli departure stamps, passengers were held for 12 hours, and South Africa has opened an investigation. Aid groups say travellers paid roughly $2,000 each to an organisation called Al‑Majd and some were reportedly misled about their final destination. An earlier flight carrying 176 people arrived on Oct. 28; many details remain under investigation.
02:37 AM, 11/18/2025Conflict
South Africa questions charter flights that brought Palestinians to Johannesburg
South African authorities say the unexpected arrival of 153 Palestinians on a charter flight last week raises serious concerns and may signal a broader, coordinated attempt to move Palestinians out of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola described the circumstances surrounding the flight as "suspicious," noting the passengers' passports lacked departure stamps from Israel. Border police detained the group on the tarmac in Johannesburg for about 12 hours before President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised their entry under a standard 90‑day visa exemption.
Local charity Gift of the Givers said an earlier charter had arrived on Oct. 28 carrying 176 Palestinians and that it is assisting the arrivals. The charity told AFP the migrants said they had paid roughly $2,000 each to an organisation named Al‑Majd to arrange travel out of Gaza.
"We do not want any further flights to come our way because this is a clear agenda to cleanse out Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank," Lamola told reporters, adding that the operation "does look like it represents a broader agenda to remove Palestinians from Palestine into many different parts of the world."
Representatives of the charity and local activists say some people were misled about their final destination — several believed they would travel to Indonesia, Malaysia or India — and that contact with organisers ceased shortly after arrival. Travellers reportedly flew from Israel's Ramon airport to Nairobi before boarding the charter to Johannesburg.
The Palestinian embassy in Pretoria described the travel arrangements as organised by an unregistered and misleading group that "exploited the tragic humanitarian conditions of our people in Gaza," deceived families, collected money and facilitated irregular travel.
Activists in Johannesburg say Al‑Majd advertised "evacuation and relocation" on social media, collected payments into an account and gave people little notice before departure. According to travellers, organisers processed departures via the Kerem Shalom crossing and required people to leave most possessions behind, permitting only mobile phones, the clothing they wore and any cash.
AFP attempts to contact Al‑Majd returned no working phone numbers, and the group's listed address corresponds to the East Jerusalem neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah. Israeli authorities told AFP that the 153 people were allowed to leave Gaza after receiving "approval from a third country to receive them," but did not name that country.
Investigation and context
Lamola said Pretoria is investigating the matter. The episode occurs as South Africa prepares to host world leaders for a G20 summit and follows Pretoria's 2023 case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, in which it accused Israel of genocide in Gaza — a background that helps explain the strong official reaction.
At this stage, many details remain unverified: the precise role of Al‑Majd, the identity of the unnamed third country, and whether the movements constitute an orchestrated campaign or exploitative smuggling. South African authorities, international aid groups and the Palestinian embassy are continuing inquiries.