Al Jazeera's digital investigation alleges that Al‑Majd Europe operated as a likely shell organisation, charging Palestinians between about $1,000 and $2,500 to depart Gaza on clandestine flights. A November 13 flight carrying 153 passengers to South Africa arrived without Israeli exit stamps and was delayed for around 12 hours. The probe links the operation to a new carrier, FLYYO, and an Estonian recruiter, Talent Globus, and raises broader concerns about opaque evacuations and potential coerced displacement.
Investigation: Suspected Shell Operation Al‑Majd Europe Allegedly Arranged Secret Flights Evacuating Palestinians From Gaza
Palestinians sit in a plane at a Johannesburg, South Africa, airport after having flown from Gaza via Israel and Kenya [Screenshot via social media]
A digital investigation by Al Jazeera alleges that an organisation calling itself Al‑Majd Europe operated as a likely shell, charging Palestinians substantial fees to leave Gaza on clandestine flights. The probe raises questions about coordination, false humanitarian claims, and whether these operations form part of a broader effort to encourage or effect the removal of Gaza residents.
What Happened
On November 13, a flight carrying 153 passengers from Gaza landed at OR Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg and Pretoria. Passengers were initially denied entry because their passports lacked Israeli exit stamps and remained on the aircraft for roughly 12 hours before being allowed to disembark. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa later said the passengers were admitted out of compassion and announced an investigation.
Allegations Against Al‑Majd Europe
Al Jazeera traced the operation to Al‑Majd Europe, an organisation that presented itself online as a humanitarian foundation focused on relief in Muslim countries and services for Gazans wishing to exit Gaza. The investigation found no record of the group in German or European registries, the listed address in East Jerusalem did not correspond to an NGO office, and several partner pages were removed from the site after the flight.
Services, Fees, And Secrecy
Multiple witnesses told investigators that Al‑Majd advertised evacuations and medical assistance. One passenger said the initial offer was described as free, but fees later varied from roughly $1,000 to $2,500 per person. Applicants were reportedly required to be family groups, instructed to keep departures secret, and only given final flight details hours before departure. Passengers said personal belongings were confiscated at the Karem Abu Salem crossing, also called Kerem Shalom, and they were bused to Ramon Airport under apparent escort.
Airlines, Companies, And People Linked
Evacuees boarded an aircraft registered to a recently created carrier named FLYYO. Open source investigation found other flights organised by FLYYO departing from Israeli airports to destinations including Romania, Indonesia, South Africa, and Kenya. The probe also identified a small Estonian recruitment company, Talent Globus, whose public registrations and staff profiles appeared inconsistent or fabricated. One individual linked to Talent Globus, Tom Lind, has been named in media reports as having coordinated some flights; Lind posted on LinkedIn in May 2025 that he was focused on humanitarian efforts to support Palestinians.
People Named In The Investigation
Investigators found two public names associated with Al‑Majd. Muayad Hisham Saidam is listed on the organisation's site as humanitarian projects manager in Gaza; open source analysis suggests he was on an earlier charter flight from Ramon Airport on May 27, 2025, to Budapest with other Gaza passengers. Another contact uses only the name Adnan and leaves little digital trace. Al Jazeera used geolocation and shadow analysis to link images and flight timings to actual departures.
Context And Concerns
Observers note that Israeli officials have publicly supported what they describe as voluntary emigration from Gaza. In March 2025, Israel set up a bureau to encourage Palestinians to leave Gaza voluntarily; critics warn that such language can mask coercion. Al Jazeera's findings do not definitively prove a government plan to depopulate Gaza, but they document an opaque network moving people out in small groups and raise concerns about possible systematic displacement.
These are allegations based on open source reporting and witness testimony; definitive legal or governmental findings are pending investigations by relevant authorities.
Key Evidence And Gaps
The investigation combined witness testimony, analysis of flight records, public company registries, online archives, and image forensics. It identified inconsistencies in Al‑Majd's registration claims, questionable partner listings, apparent stock images used for staff, and a pattern of flights with passengers from Gaza leaving via Ramon Airport without exit stamps. Important questions remain unanswered, including the precise financial flows, the identities of organisers behind Al‑Majd and FLYYO, and whether state actors facilitated or coordinated the movements.
Implications
The case highlights risks when purported humanitarian operations cannot be independently verified and when vulnerable populations are moved under secretive conditions. Authorities in South Africa and elsewhere have launched or announced inquiries. The investigation underscores the need for transparency, independent oversight, and protection of the rights of displaced people.
