South Africa Halts Charter Flights for Palestinians Amid Cleansing Concerns

Tue Nov 18 2025 07:55:37 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a controversial turn of events, South Africa has declared it will not accept further charter flights carrying Palestinians, citing fears of an orchestrated cleansing agenda following a recent flight that raised significant alarm.

South Africa has expressed its refusal to accept charter flights bringing Palestinians from Gaza after a flight sparked concerns about a potential cleansing agenda. The country's Foreign Minister described the recent arrival of Palestinians as part of a broader plan to displace them internationally. The situation arose when 153 Palestinians arrived in South Africa with unclear circumstances, leading to a refusal of entry for many until local intervention allowed some to disembark. This decision aligns with South Africa's long-standing support for Palestinian rights amidst ongoing conflict.

South Africa has announced it will no longer permit charter flights carrying Palestinians, following the recent arrival of a group of 153 individuals from Gaza that raised significant concerns about a broader agenda to displace Palestinians.

According to South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, the flight was part of a potential strategy aimed at 'cleansing' Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank. He indicated that local authorities would investigate the matter further.

Following the controversial flight, which saw passengers initially restrained on the tarmac for over ten hours due to unclear immigration protocols, the South African government opined that this was reflective of a global effort to relocate Palestinians.

The Palestinian Embassy in South Africa stated the group left Israel’s Ramon Airport and arrived in the country via Nairobi, without prior notification or coordination. They emphasized that unregistered organizations took advantage of the situation, misleading families and facilitating irregular travel.

This incident has further complicated South Africa’s diplomatic stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict. The country has historically supported the Palestinian cause, echoing sentiments from the era of Nelson Mandela when support for Palestine was explicitly stated in opposition to apartheid.

Large pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been commonplace since the escalation of violence in Gaza, while the South African government recently filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, alleging genocide.