When 330 Palestinians mysteriously landed in South Africa on charter flights with no exit stamps and unclear documentation, a nation that champions the Palestinian cause found itself asking uncomfortable questions about who was really in control of their fate.
Quick Take
- Two charter flights carrying approximately 330 Palestinians from Gaza arrived in Johannesburg in late October and mid-November 2025 without prior coordination with South African authorities
- The flights were organized by Al-Majd Europe, a shadowy organization with minimal public presence, no verifiable structure, and a website created less than a year ago
- Passengers lacked proper exit documentation and immigration stamps, forcing South African officials to hold the second group on the tarmac for over 10 hours
- South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola accused Israel of orchestrating a “cleansing” agenda, while the government announced it would refuse further charter flights until the situation was clarified
The Arrival That Raised Red Flags
On October 28, 2025, a charter flight carrying 176 Palestinians touched down at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. The passengers, reportedly evacuated from Gaza through Israeli-controlled checkpoints, had traveled via Ramon Airport in Israel and Nairobi, Kenya. The first group moved through immigration relatively smoothly. But sixteen days later, when a second flight arrived carrying 153 more Palestinians, everything ground to a halt. Immigration officials discovered the passengers lacked proper exit stamps and clear documentation. They remained confined to the aircraft for more than ten hours while authorities scrambled to determine what to do.
The Organization Nobody Could Verify
Al-Majd Europe emerged as the mysterious orchestrator behind both flights. The organization operates with virtually no public accountability. Its website launched less than a year ago. Contact details don’t work. No verifiable organizational structure exists. Civil society groups and the Palestinian embassy in South Africa immediately raised alarms about engaging with unregistered organizations. When Gift of the Givers and other local charities began assisting the arrivals, they discovered the evacuees themselves knew little about who had arranged their passage or what legal status they held in their new country.
A Government Caught Between Principle and Procedure
South Africa, a nation built on solidarity with oppressed peoples and currently prosecuting Israel at the International Court of Justice for genocide allegations, faced an unprecedented diplomatic quandary. Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola accused Israel of orchestrating a deliberate “cleansing” agenda to reduce Gaza’s population. Yet the South African government also had to confront uncomfortable truths about sovereignty and immigration law. President Cyril Ramaphosa called for transparency and accountability. By November 18, 2025, South Africa announced it would reject any further charter flights carrying Palestinians until the entire situation underwent thorough investigation and clarification.
The Timing That Amplified Everything
The flights arrived during an exceptionally sensitive moment. South Africa was hosting the G20 summit, placing intense international scrutiny on every governmental action. The arrival of undocumented Palestinians on mystery flights transformed a humanitarian question into a geopolitical flashpoint. Israeli officials denied orchestrating any displacement agenda, claiming the flights were simply approved by a third country. Yet the lack of transparency, the shadowy intermediary organization, and the absence of standard documentation created an information vacuum that fueled competing narratives about intentions and outcomes.
The Passengers Caught in the Middle
Among the evacuees were families, doctors, and other professionals seeking escape from Gaza’s deteriorating humanitarian crisis. They possessed legitimate reasons for leaving a territory experiencing severe displacement, destruction, and limited access to basic services. Yet their evacuation through unofficial channels left them vulnerable and legally precarious. Some paid substantial sums to Al-Majd Europe for their passage. Local charities worked to provide accommodation and support, but resources stretched thin. The evacuees themselves became pawns in a larger geopolitical game, their personal desperation weaponized by competing interests.
What Remains Unanswered
The investigation into Al-Majd Europe continues without conclusive findings. The organization’s true motivations remain opaque. Whether the flights represent genuine humanitarian assistance or something more sinister depends largely on which narrative one finds more credible. What seems clear is that uncoordinated evacuations outside official channels create dangerous vulnerabilities. When humanitarian crises intersect with geopolitical tensions and shadowy intermediaries, the people most in need of protection often become most exposed to exploitation.
Sources:
The Irish Times: After Hundreds of Gazans Arrive on Mystery Flights, South Africa Asks How
Anadolu Agency: All You Need to Know About Palestinian Mystery Flights to South Africa
