South Africa Raises Alarms Over Mysterious Gaza Flights As Fears Of Population “Cleansing” Grow

South Africa has raised serious concerns after two unexpected flights carrying Palestinians landed in Johannesburg under unusual circumstances. What initially looked like a humanitarian arrival has now become the centre of a diplomatic storm, with government officials questioning whether Palestinians are being quietly pushed out of Gaza and the West Bank.

Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola did not mince his words. Speaking in Johannesburg on Monday, he said the nature of the latest flight suggested “a clear agenda to cleanse Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank”. In South Africa’s political vocabulary, that is a heavy statement, and it sent ripples through diplomatic and human rights circles.

Unusual Arrival Sparks Alarm

The most recent group of 153 Palestinians arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on 13 November. They were flown in on a chartered aircraft and, crucially, had no Israeli departure stamps in their passports. That raised immediate red flags for border officials, who kept the group on the plane for 12 hours while government sought clarity.

President Cyril Ramaphosa eventually authorised a standard 90-day visa exemption. But the questions did not end there.

It later emerged that this was not the first such flight. Humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers confirmed that another aircraft carrying 176 Palestinians had landed quietly on 28 October, also under unclear circumstances.

A Mystery Organisation And Growing Concern

Both flights appear to have been arranged with the involvement of an obscure organisation called Al-Majd. Little is publicly known about the group, and that secrecy is fuelling suspicion.

Lamola told reporters that the pattern looked orchestrated, suggesting a coordinated effort to remove Palestinians from their homeland.

He warned that South Africa does not want additional unannounced flights entering the country, saying the situation “does look like it represents a broader agenda to remove Palestinians from Palestine into many different parts of the world”.

For a country that has positioned itself strongly against forced displacement in global conflicts, this allegation carries weight.

Local Context: A Country With A Strong Palestinian Solidarity Movement

South Africa’s government and civil society have long been vocal supporters of Palestinian rights. The history of apartheid gives this issue particular emotional and political resonance for many South Africans, who often draw parallels between the struggle eras.

This latest incident has reignited public conversation. On social media, many South Africans expressed sympathy for families fleeing conflict, while others questioned the secrecy surrounding the flights and the safety of the refugees once relocated.

One widely shared post on X read:
“We welcome our Palestinian brothers and sisters with love, but why are flights arriving in the shadows? Something is not right.”

Another user wrote:
“If these flights are part of a plan to empty Gaza, SA must speak loudly. History taught us what forced displacement looks like.”

A Developing Story With Global Implications

The questions now dominating public debate go far beyond immigration policy. The possibility that Palestinian civilians are being dispersed across the world without transparency has raised alarms about the wider geopolitical strategy surrounding the Gaza conflict.

As South Africa pushes for answers, the country finds itself once again in the global spotlight over its stance on human rights, international law and solidarity with oppressed communities.

This story is still unfolding, and government officials say they will continue probing the origins and intentions behind the mysterious flights. For now, the arrivals at OR Tambo have placed South Africa at the heart of an uncomfortable but urgent conversation: who is moving Palestinians out of Gaza, and why?

{Source:EWN}

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