South Africa has suspended its long-standing 90-day visa exemption for Palestinian passport holders, citing what officials describe as a coordinated campaign of “forced migration” linked to Israel. Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber said the decision followed the arrival of a charter flight carrying 153 Palestinians last week the second such flight in recent months. According to Schreiber, both flights were arranged by Israeli-affiliated groups allegedly working to relocate residents of the Gaza Strip under unclear circumstances.
He accused the organisers of misusing South Africa’s visa policy and endangering vulnerable passengers by flying them into the country without proper support, adding that some arrivals were left with no financial or resettlement assistance. Human rights organisations say the secrecy surrounding the flights has heightened concerns that Israel may be pressuring Palestinians to leave Gaza amid the ongoing conflict.
Israel’s agency responsible for civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories said the passengers left Gaza only after Israel secured approval from a third country willing to accept them. Critics argue the process lacks transparency and undermines Palestinians’ right to remain on their land. Israel has also welcomed comments by U.S. President Donald Trump endorsing a future plan to remove Gaza’s more than 2 million Palestinians permanently a proposal rights groups warn would amount to ethnic cleansing under international law. South Africa, which has been one of Israel’s most vocal critics globally, says visa requirements will now be enforced for all Palestinian travelers until further notice.
