South Africa Revokes Visa Exemption for Palestinians After "Mysterious Journey" from Gaza

SadaNews - The South African newspaper "IOL" reported that the Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, announced the revocation of the 90-day visa exemption for holders of Palestinian passports, following official investigations that revealed "systematic abuse" of the exemption in attempts to transport Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to South Africa.

According to the newspaper, the decision came after the arrival of 153 Palestinians last month in South Africa on a charter flight from Kenya.

The newspaper clarified that intelligence reports and discussions within the "Security Group" confirmed that the exemption was being exploited by "Israeli entities" linked to so-called "voluntary migration" efforts for residents of Gaza, prompting the Home Affairs Ministry to fully withdraw the exemption.

The Minister of Home Affairs stated that many travelers arrived with one-way tickets, were prevented from carrying personal luggage, and were only allowed to carry U.S. dollars and some essential supplies. Many of them lacked departure documents, residency details, and return tickets, which raised suspicions of exploitation.

He added that the "series of events constitutes a clear exploitation of the travelers themselves," noting that most of them confirmed they did not wish to seek asylum, which necessitated intervention from civil society organizations to provide support.

Schreiber explained that revoking the exemption is the "most effective step" to prevent the recurrence of such journeys, while also confirming that visa applications for Palestinians will be processed normally.

In mid-November, a flight carrying Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to South Africa raised a wave of questions after a plane arrived under circumstances described as "mysterious" and an unannounced route.

The plane landed at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, carrying 153 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, prompting the South African government to open an official investigation.