(MENAFN) South African authorities are investigating a chartered flight that brought 153 Palestinian refugees into the country on Thursday without the proper documentation, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Friday.

“These are people from Gaza who somehow mysteriously were put on a plane that passed by Nairobi (Kenya's capital) and came here,” Ramaphosa said, noting that the intelligence agency and the Department of Home Affairs are examining the situation.

Initially, the refugees were denied entry due to incomplete interviews and the absence of standard departure stamps in their passports. After waiting more than 10 hours at OR Tambo International Airport near Johannesburg, South Africa granted them a 90-day visa exemption.

By that time, 23 of the group had already boarded onward flights to other destinations.

Authorities explained that border officials had observed that some travelers lacked return tickets or accommodation addresses, prompting the initial refusal of entry. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Embassy in South Africa criticized the flight, stating the passengers arrived “from Gaza via Ramon Airport through Nairobi without any prior note or coordination.” It added that an “unregistered and misleading organization” arranged the flight, exploiting Gaza residents’ vulnerable circumstances, collecting money from families, and facilitating travel in a disorganized manner.

Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of the humanitarian group Gift of the Givers, told local media that Israel played a role in the uncoordinated entry, suggesting a “coordinated effort from Israel to carry out a process of ethnic cleansing.” He said many passengers were unaware of their final destination and traveled without exit stamps, compounding their difficulties upon arrival in foreign countries.

According to reports, Israeli military body Cogat, which manages Gaza’s crossings, confirmed that the residents left Gaza after Cogat received approval from a third country, though it did not identify that country.

One refugee, Loay Abu Saif, told Al Jazeera that the journey from Gaza lasted over 24 hours with a plane change and described it as a “trip of suffering.” He explained that families were selected via an online registration process prioritizing children, required valid Palestinian travel documents, and underwent Israeli security clearance. Passengers were given minimal notice of departure, instructed to carry no personal belongings except documents, and paid roughly $1,400–$2,000 per person.

Abu Saif added that after selection, refugees were bused from Rafah to the Karem Abu Salem crossing for checks before traveling to Israel’s Ramon Airport and confirmed that Israeli authorities did not stamp their travel documents.

This marks the second flight carrying Palestinians from Gaza to South Africa; the first, with 176 passengers, arrived at OR Tambo International Airport late last month.

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