South African President Cyril Ramaphosa says there will be an investigation into the mysterious arrival of a chartered plane carrying 153 Palestinians from Gaza into the country.
The group arrived at OR Tambo International Airport but were initially refused entry and were stuck in the plane for more than 10 hours as they did not have the customary departure stamps in their passports, local authorities said.
Most were eventually allowed in after intervention from a local charity and because of the government's empathy [and] compassion, Ramaphosa said.
The circumstances of their departure from Gaza and travel to South Africa remain unclear.
South Africa has maintained strong support for the Palestinian cause throughout the war between Hamas and Israel in Gaza. Ramaphosa said the group somehow mysteriously were put on a plane that passed by Nairobi and flew to South Africa.
Israeli military body Cogat, which controls Gaza's crossings, said in a statement: The residents left the Gaza Strip after Cogat received approval from a third country to receive them. The Palestinian embassy in South Africa indicated the group traveled from Israel's Ramon Airport to South Africa via Nairobi without prior arrangement.
Gift of the Givers has stated it will provide the group with accommodation in South Africa. Civil societies have urged for investigations into the conditions the Palestinians fled from in Gaza and the exact route of the aircraft.
In response to the initial entry issues, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber explained that while Palestinian passport holders qualify for 90-day visa-free access, the lack of departure stamps and accommodation details led to confusion. Ultimately, the group secured entry after confirming their accommodations.
One passenger expressed relief at being in South Africa, highlighting the dire conditions he escaped in Gaza. Civil society groups are now calling for closer scrutiny of the South African home affairs ministry regarding their treatment of the Palestinian arrivals.
South Africa's historical support for the Palestinian cause fuels ongoing dialogues and protests within the country, as concern for the humanitarian plight in Gaza deepens.
