Israel Confirms Third-Country Approval for Palestinian Arrival in South Africa

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Israeli authorities have said that 153 Palestinians who turned up unexpectedly in South Africa, triggering questions from its president, had received entry approval from an unnamed third country.

Shimi Zuaretz, a spokesman for COGAT, the Israeli body that runs civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, told Agence France-Presse on Saturday that they had only been allowed to leave Gaza “after COGAT received approval from a third country to receive them”.

He did not name the country.

After landing in Johannesburg on Thursday local time, the Palestinians were kept aboard their plane for 12 hours because they did not have departure stamps from Israel in their passports, South African border police said.

The passengers were finally allowed to leave the ship after the home affairs ministry received assurances from a non-governmental organization about providing them with shelter.

The NGO, Gift of the Givers, told South African media it did not know who had chartered the flight or a previous one that brought 176 Gazans on 28 October.

“The Palestinians had no idea where they were bundled off to, only when in Kenya did they realise they were coming to South Africa. Some had visas for Canada, Australia and Malaysia, they were eventually permitted to leave for those countries,” said Imtiaz Sooliman, chair and founder of Gift of the Givers.

An unnamed Israeli official revealed to AFP that the organization managing the transfer had presented third-country visas to COGAT for all the evacuees.

The South African home affairs ministry reported that 130 individuals from the group entered the nation, while the other 23 travelers continued on to different destinations.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa told journalists on Friday that it seemed “like they were being flushed out”.

“These are people from Gaza who somehow mysteriously were put on a plane that passed by Nairobi and came here,” he said.

“We intend to conduct a thorough assessment to determine future actions,” the official remarked.

Zuaretz said COGAT facilitates the departure of Gaza residents through Israel to receiving countries, for patients requiring medical treatment, dual citizens and their family members, “or those possessing visas to third countries”.

Israel “bases its decisions solely on requests received from foreign countries”, he added, saying the departure of more than 40,000 Gaza residents had been facilitated since the start of the war in Gaza.

Ramaphosa said South African intelligence agencies, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation were now assessing the situation.

“It’s crucial for us to examine the origins of the 130 Palestinians’ journey, including where it began and the reasons behind their relocation here,” stated Ramaphosa.

Allegations of irregular travel arrangements

South Africa’s interior ministry said the Palestinian embassy had told it the group was deceived and charged money by an unspecified unregistered organisation, which later “attempted to disown any responsibility once complications arose”.

“We obviously need to look at the origins (of the 130 Palestinians’ journey), where it started, the reason why they’ve been brought here,” Ramaphosa said.

“But … out of compassion, and because they are a people that we as South Africa have raised our hands to support, we felt that we should accept them,” he said.

South Africa, which hosts the largest Jewish community in sub-Saharan Africa, has largely been supportive of the Palestinian cause.

The government filed a case against Israel with the International Court of Justice in 2023, accusing it of genocide in Gaza.