Palestinians allowed to stay in South Africa

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the 153 Palestinians who arrived 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 about 12 hours because of complications with their travel documents, drawing criticism from various quarters.

Ramaphosa explained that the Palestinians lacked exit stamps from Israeli authorities, had not indicated how long they intended to stay in South Africa, and had not provided local addresses. Nevertheless, he emphasized that the government could not send them back given the humanitarian crisis 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,” he said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs intervened, and the passengers were allowed to leave the aircraft on Thursday night. A local non‑governmental organization, Gift of the Givers, offered accommodation. So far, 23 passengers have traveled on to other countries, leaving 130 in South Africa. Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, noted that this is the second plane carrying Palestinians to land in South Africa in the past two weeks, both believed to be from war‑torn Gaza. The circumstances surrounding the charter’s organization and how the passengers left Israel without proper documentation remain unclear.

Many of the Palestinians now intend to claim asylum in South Africa, a country that has long supported the Palestinian cause. The handling of the travelers has sparked anger, with some criticizing the initial response of South African authorities. The episode highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Palestinians seeking refuge and the complexities of international travel and asylum processes. 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.