South Africa expressed alarm Monday over the unexpected arrival of 153 Palestinians last week, calling it a possible plan to remove Palestinians.
The group landed in Johannesburg on a chartered flight Thursday without Israeli departure stamps in their passports, prompting government suspicion.
Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said authorities were investigating a shadowy organisation named Al-Majd, which reportedly facilitated travel from Gaza under unclear circumstances.
South African border police held the passengers on the plane for 12 hours before President Cyril Ramaphosa authorised their entry on visa exemptions.
A first plane carrying 176 Palestinians had arrived on October 28, according to the Gift of the Givers charity assisting the arrivals.
Lamola condemned the flights as part of a broader agenda to displace Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank internationally.
South Africa, a strong supporter of Palestinian rights, previously filed a case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza at the International Court of Justice.
Charity officials said passengers paid around $2,000 each to Al-Majd, believing they would travel to safe countries welcoming Palestinians.
Many were misled about destinations, with some expecting Indonesia, Malaysia, or India, while others were unaware they were headed to South Africa.
Passengers left Gaza through Israel’s Ramon airport, flew via Nairobi, and discovered promised accommodation lasted only a week, with Al-Majd contact going silent.
Some travellers expressed interest in applying for asylum, while the Palestinian embassy denounced Al-Majd as unregistered and misleading, exploiting Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
Activists said Al-Majd advertised “evacuation and relocation” via social media, collected money, and instructed families to travel with minimal belongings.
Israeli authorities confirmed the group left Gaza with approval from a third country, which was not disclosed, raising questions about coordination.
Lamola affirmed Pretoria is investigating the circumstances, emphasising South Africa’s opposition to any orchestrated displacement of Palestinians from their homeland.