JOHANNESBURG: More than 150 Palestinians arrived in South Africa on Thursday under mysterious circumstances, with indications that they were forced to leave the Gaza Strip, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday. The group landed at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg but was kept on the charter plane for 12 hours due to missing departure stamps from Israel on their passports.
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The South African home affairs ministry eventually allowed the passengers to disembark after the Gift of the Givers charity guaranteed accommodation for them. “It does seem like they were being flushed out,” Ramaphosa said, noting that South Africa admitted the group “out of compassion” while the details of their departure from Gaza are investigated.
Of the 153 Palestinians on the flight, 130 entered South Africa, while 23 took onward flights to other destinations. This follows a previous flight on Oct 28 carrying 176 Palestinians, some of whom later traveled to other countries, according to Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers.
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The incident highlights the ongoing humanitarian challenges faced by Palestinians amid the Gaza crisis, as countries grapple with unexpected arrivals and the need to provide urgent support and shelter.