Johannesburg/South Africa – November 15, 2025: The Palestinian Authority (PA) has issued a warning to Palestinians in Gaza, urging them to be cautious of “agents of displacement” after 153 Palestinians arrived unexpectedly in South Africa on a flight from Kenya.

The passengers reportedly left Ramon Airport in southern Israel without knowing their final destination and without proper paperwork. Upon arrival in Johannesburg on November 13, authorities held them for 12 hours while investigating the flight.

Temporary Visas Granted

South Africa, which is pursuing a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), granted the arrivals 90-day visas. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “deep appreciation” for South Africa’s support and pledged assistance to the travellers, noting that they had endured over two years of conflict, displacement, and destruction.

However, the PA cautioned against shadowy companies, unregistered intermediaries, and unofficial entities in Israeli-occupied territories that may attempt to exploit Palestinians or mislead them into leaving Gaza.

“The ministry calls upon our people, especially our people in the Gaza Strip, to exercise caution and not fall prey to human trafficking, to merchants and companies of blood, and to agents of displacement,” the PA stated.

Flight and Humanitarian Context

According to South Africa’s Border Management Authority, 130 Palestinians entered the country, while 23 were transferred to other destinations from the airport. Most arrivals are expected to apply for asylum.

The South African humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers committed to accommodating the travellers. Charity founder Imtiaz Sooliman reported uncertainty about who chartered the flight and highlighted a similar flight of 176 Palestinians that landed in Johannesburg on October 28.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that Israel may have facilitated the removal of Palestinians from Gaza without proper documentation, leaving them stranded in third countries.

The Israeli military organization COGAT confirmed it received approval from an unnamed third country to receive Gaza residents, as part of a policy allowing departures from Gaza. Israel and the US have repeatedly advocated for relocating Palestinians, negotiating with various countries.

Experts Raise Concerns

Author Antony Loewenstein, who wrote The Palestine Laboratory, described the flight scheme as potentially a form of ethnic cleansing, citing murky company operations and Israeli facilitation. He told Al Jazeera:

“I see it as a form of ethnic cleansing… Many ministers in the Israeli government, and frankly the Israeli public, want no Palestinians left in Gaza, and I fear this is part of that mission.”

The PA’s warning and South Africa’s temporary visas underscore the complex and dangerous situation facing Palestinians in Gaza, where displacement and human trafficking risks are intertwined with ongoing conflict.