A group of 153 Palestinian refugees arrived in South Africa this week, having reportedly paid US$2,000 each for the promise of safe transport and settlement. However, their journey was marred by uncertainty, largely influenced by the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the actions of Israeli authorities.
As reported by Sunday Tribune, the humanitarian crisis unfolded at OR Tambo International Airport in Gauteng on Thursday, where the refugees, including a pregnant woman and children, arrived stripped of their possessions due to the devastating conflict in Gaza. They only learned of their final destination upon landing in South Africa.
Sarah Oosthuizen, a volunteer with the humanitarian aid organisation Gift of the Givers, stated that the group arrived with only their passports, some cash, and phones. The refugees were unaware of their destination until they received boarding passes in Nairobi via Global Airways Lift to OR Tambo, Taschia Pillay of Sunday Tribune reported.
“Most are in family groups. They are malnourished, traumatised, and have untreated chronic ailments,” Oosthuizen said. She highlighted the urgent need for humanitarian assistance, as multiple organisations, including Gift of the Givers and Caring Women’s Forum, along with ordinary South Africans, extended incredible hospitality.
Oosthuizen noted that on October 28, a similar flight carrying 180 people had landed in Johannesburg, and like this week’s arrivals, they too lacked exit stamps from Israel. “This must be investigated thoroughly to determine the role players behind this,” she urged.
Na’eem Jeenah, an activist and community leader in contact with the Palestinians since their arrival, revealed that the group was dispersed across various accommodations in Johannesburg. “Some are with South African families, others in hotels, and some are living in houses and flats provided by compassionate South Africans,” he explained.
Each individual in the group reportedly paid an organisation called Al-Majd for safe passage out of Gaza. Jeenah raised concerns about the legitimacy of Al-Majd, stating, “Several people in Gaza applied online, but the organisation’s claims about its establishment and registration are misleading.”
He further explained that the refugees were not informed of their destination prior to departure. “Initially, they were told they could take a rucksack, but those were taken from them. They were allowed to travel only with the clothes on their backs, a cell phone, a passport, and some money,” he said.
Jeenah emphasised the trauma experienced by the refugees, saying: “They have emerged from an active genocide. The children and babies have spent their lives running from bombs and snipers. Every single person in this group has witnessed horrors that no human should endure. Their mental health has undoubtedly been severely impacted.”
While the refugees have a 90-day entry permit in South Africa, some plan to move to other countries where they have family, while others may seek asylum. “We don’t know how many will choose which option. Right now, they are recovering from a horrific ordeal,” Jeenah added.
Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber confirmed that a chartered flight carrying travellers from Palestine arrived in Johannesburg from Nairobi on Thursday. He noted that upon arrival, the 153 travellers were processed by officials from the Border Management Authority (BMA). However, discrepancies in their documentation, including the absence of departure stamps and return tickets, delayed their entry, the Sunday Tribune report continued.
“Once it was confirmed that they would be provided with accommodation and care during their visit, the Minister of Home Affairs presented this information to the BMA Commissioner for consideration on humanitarian grounds,” Schreiber said. The travellers were eventually granted entry into South Africa on a standard 90-day visa exemption.
Chrispin Phiri, spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), declined to provide further details, stating that the Department of Home Affairs’ statement represents DIRCO’s comments until further notice.
The Embassy of the State of Palestine in South Africa confirmed its collaboration with South African authorities to resolve the humanitarian situation involving the 153 Palestinian citizens from Gaza. The Embassy condemned the actions of unregistered organisations that exploited the dire conditions in Gaza, deceiving families and facilitating their travel irresponsibly.
Abdool Valodia, president of United for Palestine, praised the South African government’s compassionate handling of the situation. He expressed gratitude to the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation for their decisive action in granting entry visas to these distressed citizens.
“This humanitarian gesture, despite their arrival without prior coordination, is a powerful testament to South Africa’s solidarity with the Palestinian people,” Valodia stated. However, he also issued a warning to those misleading Palestinian citizens, highlighting the exploitation of their plight for political and financial gain.
“The actions of these entities amount to human trafficking and must be condemned. Compliance with forced displacement schemes is a crime under international law, and we support legal action against those responsible,” Valodia concluded.
