South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that 153 Palestinians who arrived in the country on a chartered flight will not be turned back. The group, which includes families and children, landed at O.R. Tambo International Airport on Thursday after a stopover in Nairobi, Kenya. Initially, they were held on the plane for around 12 hours due to complications with their travel documents, sparking criticism from various quarters.
According to Ramaphosa, the Palestinians did not have exit stamps from Israeli authorities, did not indicate how long they would be staying in South Africa, and had not given local addresses. However, the president emphasized that the government could not turn them back due to the humanitarian situation in their home country. “These are people from a strife-torn, a war-torn country, and out of compassion, out of empathy, we must receive them,” Ramaphosa stated.
The 153 passengers were eventually allowed to leave the plane on Thursday night after the Ministry of Home Affairs intervened, and a local non-governmental organization, Gift of the Givers, offered to accommodate them. So far, 23 passengers have traveled on to other countries, leaving 130 in South Africa. The founder of Gift of the Givers, Imtiaz Sooliman, noted that this is the second plane carrying Palestinians to land in South Africa in the last two weeks, with both planes believed to be carrying people from war-torn Gaza.
The circumstances surrounding the charter plane’s organization and the passengers’ ability to leave Israel without proper documentation remain unclear. However, many of the Palestinians now intend to claim asylum in South Africa, which has long been a supporter of the Palestinian cause. The treatment of the travelers has sparked anger, with some criticizing the initial handling of the situation by South African authorities.
The development highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Palestinians seeking refuge and the complexities of international travel and asylum processes. As the situation unfolds, it is likely to draw continued attention to the plight of those affected by conflict in the region. With 130 Palestinians currently in South Africa, the government will need to navigate the next steps in addressing their needs and determining their status in the country.