South Africa withdraws visa-free entry for Palestinians after alleging secret flights were part of a forced migration effort linked to Israeli actors.
South Africa has revoked its 90-day visa exemption for Palestinians, claiming that recent charter flights bringing Gaza residents into the country were part of a coordinated “forced migration” effort.
Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber said the latest flight, which arrived with 153 people onboard, was the second such operation since October and was allegedly organised by Israeli actors involved in relocating Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
Schreiber described the flights as an “abuse” of South Africa’s visa regime and of the passengers themselves, saying organisers appeared willing to leave arrivals “destitute” once they landed.
The secrecy around the flights has fuelled concern among rights groups that Israel is attempting to push Palestinians out of Gaza under the guise of humanitarian evacuation.
Israel’s authority responsible for civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories said the Palestinians travelling to South Africa had left Gaza only after Israel secured approval from a third country to receive them.
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