South African authorities initially blocked, but later allowed, 130 Palestinian travelers to enter O.R. Tambo International Airport this week after humanitarian intervention and high-level government consultations addressed documentation irregularities.
The group of 153 Palestinians arrived on a chartered Global Airways flight from Nairobi on Wednesday. Border Management Authority (BMA) officials flagged several issues, including missing departure stamps in passports, lack of return tickets, and unverified accommodation addresses. These discrepancies initially prevented their immediate entry, as authorities needed to ensure the travelers’ intentions and that they would not be left without support in South Africa.
The situation was resolved after the Palestinian embassy confirmed the travelers were not seeking asylum, and humanitarian organization Gift of the Guters provided accommodation assurances. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber presented the updated information to BMA Commissioner Michael Masiapato, leading to entry being granted on humanitarian grounds. By the time clearance was given, 23 travelers had already departed for other destinations, with the remaining 130 admitted under South Africa’s standard 90-day visa exemption for Palestinian passport holders.
The case comes amid South Africa’s longstanding support for Palestinian rights, including its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. President Cyril Ramaphosa noted that while the travelers would typically have been repatriated due to documentation issues, humanitarian considerations warranted their admission.
Authorities are investigating claims from the Palestinian embassy that an “unregistered and misleading organization” facilitated the travel of families from Gaza through irregular and potentially irresponsible means.
