South African authorities on Wednesday allowed 130 Palestinian travelers to enter the country after initially being barred due to irregularities in their travel documents. The group of 153 arrived on a chartered Global Airways flight from Nairobi, with officials citing missing departure stamps, unconfirmed accommodation, and absent return tickets as reasons for the initial refusal.
Humanitarian organizations and high-level government intervention resolved the situation. The Palestinian embassy confirmed the travelers were not seeking asylum, while the charity Gift of the Givers guaranteed accommodation. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber briefed Border Management Authority Commissioner Michael Masiapato, who approved entry on humanitarian grounds. By the time clearance was granted, 23 travelers had already left for other destinations, and the remaining 130 were admitted under South Africa’s 90-day visa exemption for Palestinian passport holders.
The case underscores South Africa’s longstanding support for Palestinian rights, including its ongoing genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice. Officials are investigating claims that an unregistered organization misled families from Gaza, arranging travel through irregular channels. President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasized that while the travelers would normally be repatriated for documentation issues, compassion dictated their acceptance.
