The arrival of a charter flight carrying Palestinian refugees in Johannesburg is a "clearly planned operation" aimed at deporting Palestinians away from their homeland, according to South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola.
"This is a clearly planned operation because flights are not only heading to South Africa. There are other countries receiving such flights as well," Lamola stated during a press conference, as reported by SABC.
The minister added that the arrival of Palestinians in Johannesburg is likely part of a "broader strategy" to resettle residents from Gaza and the West Bank to various countries.
"We do not want such flights to our country to continue because this is a clear program to expel Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank," Lamola declared.
Earlier in November, 153 Palestinian refugees arrived in South Africa. Of these, 23 have since left the republic for their final destinations, while the remaining 130 were processed through regular channels and are required to comply with all entry conditions.
South Africa's Border Management Authority initially denied entry to passengers on the charter flight from Nairobi because they could not specify their length of stay, provide a residential address, or present exit stamps in their passports. The refugees waited on the plane for 12 hours before being granted entry after the organization Gift of the Givers committed to accommodating them.
In September, during the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that the international community must immediately recognize Palestinian statehood and work to end the war in Gaza. He also called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of Hamas hostages and Israeli political prisoners, the reconstruction of Gaza, and an end to Israeli settler expansion into Palestinian territories.
