Draft:Chartered flight carrying Palestinian refugees detained and later admitted in South Africa

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The 2025 O.R. Tambo International Airport Palestinian travellers incident refers to the arrival and temporary detention of a charter flight carrying 153 Palestinians at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa on 14 November 2025. The passengers, who had fled the war in the Gaza Strip, were kept on board for about 12–13 hours because South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA) considered them inadmissible. After the humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers offered to host the travellers, authorities allowed most of the group into South Africa on 90-day visas.[1] The incident provoked criticism from civil-society organisations, highlighted alleged irregularities in the travellers’ journey, and prompted investigations by the South African government.[2]

Background

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Gaza war and displacement

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The Israel–Hamas war that began in 2023 devastated the Gaza Strip. By 3 October 2025, the Gaza Ministry of Health estimated that 67,075 people had been killed and 169,430 injured—more than 10 percent of Gaza’s pre-war population.[3] Mass displacement and destruction of infrastructure led many residents to attempt to leave the territory.

South Africa’s stance and Gift of the Givers

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South Africa has long supported Palestinian statehood and in 2023 filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.[2] Gift of the Givers, founded in 1992, is a South African disaster-relief NGO working globally, including long-term operations in Palestine.[4] Founder Imtiaz Sooliman later stated that an earlier charter flight carrying 176 Palestinians had landed in Johannesburg on 28 October 2025.[5]

Arrival and detention

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Charter flight from Gaza via Kenya

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On 14 November 2025 a chartered Global Airways flight carrying 153 Palestinian nationals landed at O.R. Tambo International Airport. The aircraft had departed from Israel, transited in Nairobi, Kenya, and then continued to Johannesburg.[1] Many passengers had fled Gaza on 12 November and reportedly did not know their final destination until reaching Kenya.[6]

Immigration checks and tarmac hold

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Border officials interviewed the passengers and determined they lacked accommodation addresses, had not declared their intended length of stay, and did not have Israeli departure stamps.[7][8] As none had applied for asylum, they were deemed inadmissible.[1] Civil-society groups and reporters said the aircraft became extremely hot, that families had no food or water, and that one woman was nine months pregnant during the ordeal.[9]

Investigations and allegations of exploitation

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Alleged irregular travel arrangements

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The Palestinian Embassy stated the flight was arranged by an unregistered organisation that “exploited the tragic humanitarian conditions” and charged families money.[10] Media reports suggested the group may have been “Al-Majd Europe.” Sooliman said some passengers had visas for Canada, Australia or Malaysia and were unaware they were being flown to South Africa.[11] Activists alleged Israeli authorities refused to stamp the group’s passports, leaving them effectively stateless.[12]

Government response

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President Cyril Ramaphosa ordered an investigation into how the flight was organised.[2] He stated the travellers were admitted “out of compassion” and suggested they had been “flushed out” of Gaza by Israeli policies.[13] Intelligence agencies and the Departments of Home Affairs and International Relations and Cooperation began examining the organisations involved.[2]

Release and admission

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Intervention by Gift of the Givers

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Gift of the Givers offered to host the travellers and guarantee their accommodation. Following communication with the Department of Home Affairs, the BMA processed the group under South Africa’s 90-day visa exemption for Palestinian passport holders.[14]

Numbers admitted

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130 of the 153 passengers were admitted; the remaining 23 continued to other countries.[1][15]

Reactions

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Gift of the Givers thanked South African officials for intervening and criticised delays by Home Affairs.[16] Activists claimed Israeli authorities forced passengers to abandon their belongings before boarding an unmarked aircraft.[17] Israeli officials did not publicly comment, though anonymous military sources told ITV News that the flight was arranged by Al-Majd and that Israel only escorted buses to Ramon Airport.[18] COGAT later said Palestinians may leave Gaza when a third country agrees to receive them.[19]

Aftermath

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Many passengers intended to apply for asylum in South Africa, while others planned onward travel to Canada, Australia, Malaysia and other destinations. As of November 2025, South African authorities continued to investigate the charter flight and the organisations involved.

See also

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  1. ^ a b c d "South Africa lets 130 Palestinians in after initial denial over entry rules". Reuters. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "South Africa to probe unexpected arrival of Palestinian group". Reuters. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  3. ^ The Human Toll of the Gaza War: Direct and Indirect Death from 7 October 2023 to 3 October 2025 (Report). Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, Brown University. 3 October 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  4. ^ "Gift of the Givers". Wikipedia. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  5. ^ "South Africa lets 153 Palestinians disembark following 12-hour plane ordeal". Al Jazeera. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  6. ^ "South Africa to probe unexpected arrival of Palestinian group". Reuters. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  7. ^ "153 Palestinians Stuck at OR Tambo International Airport Allowed Entry". Briefly News. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Palestinians will be hosted by Gift of the Givers after surprise arrival at Joburg airport". TimesLIVE. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  9. ^ "South Africa to investigate 'mysterious' plane that landed carrying 153 Palestinians from Gaza". ITV News. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  10. ^ "South Africa lets 153 Palestinians disembark following 12-hour plane ordeal". Al Jazeera. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  11. ^ "South Africa to probe unexpected arrival of Palestinian group". Reuters. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  12. ^ "UPDATE: 160 Palestinian refugees finally allowed entry into SA after 13-hour ordeal on the tarmac". IOL. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  13. ^ "South Africa lets 153 Palestinians disembark following 12-hour plane ordeal". Al Jazeera. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  14. ^ "130 Palestinian travellers released into care of Gift of the Givers". IOL. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  15. ^ "130 Palestinian travellers released into care of Gift of the Givers". IOL. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  16. ^ "Palestinians will be hosted by Gift of the Givers after surprise arrival at Joburg airport". TimesLIVE. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  17. ^ "South Africa lets 153 Palestinians disembark following 12-hour plane ordeal". Al Jazeera. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  18. ^ "South Africa to investigate 'mysterious' plane that landed carrying 153 Palestinians from Gaza". ITV News. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  19. ^ "South Africa to investigate 'mysterious' plane that landed carrying 153 Palestinians from Gaza". ITV News. 14 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.