South African authorities have come under intense scrutiny following the detention of over 150 Palestinian travelers, including a woman in her ninth month of pregnancy, on a plane for approximately 12 hours due to issues with their travel documentation. The incident occurred at Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport on Thursday morning after the charter flight made a stopover in Nairobi, Kenya. According to the Border Management Authority, the passengers lacked exit stamps from Israeli authorities, failed to specify their intended length of stay in South Africa, and did not provide local addresses, prompting immigration officials to deny them entry. A pastor who visited the stranded passengers described the conditions as unbearable, with extreme heat causing children to scream and cry. The situation was resolved late Thursday night after the Ministry of Home Affairs intervened, and the NGO Gift of the Givers offered to accommodate the travelers. Of the 153 passengers, 23 have since departed for other countries, leaving 130 in South Africa. This marks the second such incident in two weeks, with both flights reportedly carrying individuals from war-torn Gaza. The treatment of the travelers has sparked outrage, particularly given South Africa’s longstanding support for the Palestinian cause. Many of the passengers now intend to seek asylum in South Africa, a right guaranteed under the country’s constitution.
More than 150 Palestinians were held on a plane for around 12 hours in South Africa
