South Africa stands firm over charter flights of Palestinians amid fears of a ‘cleansing agenda’
South Africa refuses further charter flights of Palestinians, calling recent arrivals part of a suspected agenda to depopulate Gaza.
The arrival of a charter flight carrying Palestinians into South Africa has triggered a major diplomatic and humanitarian uproar.
The government is now refusing to allow further similar flights, citing suspicions of an orchestrated effort to relocate Palestinians outside their homeland.
What happened: the charter flights, the suspicions and the response
On 13 November 2025, a chartered plane landed at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg carrying 153 Palestinian passengers from Gaza via Nairobi.
They arrived without exit stamps from Israel, lacked return tickets or clear accommodation in South Africa, and some say they paid up to US $2 000 each for their seats.
Authorities kept them on the plane for about 12 hours before allowing 130 to enter under 90-day visa exemptions and redirecting 23 to other countries.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola declared the flights suspicious, calling them part of “a clear agenda to cleanse Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank”.
President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed intelligence services are investigating the origin of the flights and stated: “We do not want any further flights to come our way.”
Why this is important for South Africans
For South Africa: The country has long been a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights and has taken Israel to the International Court of Justice over Gaza.
This case tests its ability to manage humanitarian gestures while safeguarding immigration and national security.
The incident raises awareness that immigration issues and global conflicts can have local impact even here. The standards for entry, asylum, and humanitarian support are under scrutiny.
For Africa: It underscores the continent’s role in global refugee movements and the importance of transparency in mass relocation.
If flights are part of a broader strategy, regional governments may face ethical and practical consequences.
What comes next for South Africa: risk, policy and humanitarian response
South Africa demands clarity about who organised these flights, where the passengers came from, how they were processed and whether the flights were legal.
The government says no further arrivals will be permitted until investigations conclude. Meanwhile, humanitarian groups on the ground raise concerns about the welfare of the Palestinians who arrived under confusing and possibly exploitative conditions.
For now, South Africa’s stance is firm: compassion does not mean blind acceptance, and the country insists it will act to protect both its immigration system and its long-standing solidarity with the Palestinian people.