Israel Says 153 Palestinians Who Arrived in South Africa Had Third-Country Approval

Israeli authorities have clarified that the 153 Palestinians who unexpectedly arrived in South Africa this week had been granted entry clearance by an unnamed third country before their departure.

Shimi Zuaretz, spokesperson for COGAT—the Israeli agency overseeing civil matters in the Palestinian territories—told AFP that the group was allowed to exit Gaza “after COGAT received approval from a third country to receive them.” He declined to identify the country involved.

The group’s arrival caused confusion after their plane landed in Johannesburg on Thursday. South African border officials kept the passengers onboard for 12 hours because their passports lacked Israeli departure stamps, according to border police.

They were later allowed entry after local humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers pledged to provide accommodation. The NGO told South African media it did not know who had chartered this flight or an earlier one that transported 176 Gazans on October 28.

An Israeli official, speaking anonymously, told AFP that the coordinating organisation had submitted third-country visas for all evacuees to COGAT prior to departure.

President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed concern over the situation, saying on Friday it appeared “like they were being flushed out.” He added: “These are people from Gaza who somehow mysteriously were put on a plane that passed by Nairobi and came here.”

According to South Africa’s home affairs ministry, 130 of the arrivals were admitted into the country, while 23 continued to other destinations.

Zuaretz explained that COGAT facilitates departures from Gaza for those with medical needs, dual nationals and their families, or individuals holding visas to third countries. He noted that more than 40,000 Gaza residents have been assisted to leave since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent war.

South Africa, home to the largest Jewish population in sub-Saharan Africa, has been vocally supportive of the Palestinian cause and in 2023 filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

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