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South Africa says Palestinian refugee flight is “orchestrated”
(MENAFN) South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said Monday that the arrival of a plane carrying Palestinian refugees in Johannesburg last week was a “clearly orchestrated operation” aimed at displacing Palestinians.
Lamola suggested the flight was part of a “broader agenda” to relocate Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank to multiple countries. “It's a clearly orchestrated operation because they are not only being sent to South Africa. There are other countries where such flights have been sent,” he told reporters.
The government is “suspicious” about the circumstances surrounding the plane’s arrival, Lamola said, noting that authorities are investigating and aiming for a comprehensive outcome. He added that current information suggests the passengers lacked the required permits. Last Thursday, South Africa granted a 90-day visa exemption to 153 Palestinians who had arrived from Kenya to seek asylum, despite initial entry denial over missing travel documents.
Lamola cited reports that a Gaza-based association charges Palestinians around $2,000 for chartered flights to countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Africa. He warned, “We do not want any further flights to come our way because this is a clear agenda to cleanse out the Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank.”
The announcement came as South Africa, currently holding the G20 presidency, prepared to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg on Nov. 22-23. US President Donald Trump said no US officials would attend, accusing South Africa of “human rights abuses” against the white Afrikaner population. Lamola described the US absence as “nonattendance” and said negotiations on the leaders’ declaration are ongoing.
He noted that four nations would not be represented at the head-of-state level: Russia, Mexico, and Argentina by foreign ministers, and China by Premier Li Qiang. Lamola said such delegations are normal at multilateral forums and not intended as a “snub or undermining of Africa.”
South Africa’s draft G20 declaration focuses on global development, diversity as a strength, and fostering open, fair negotiations. “Even with the US, when they raised concerns, we did our best to accommodate them, and they did come back into some of the meetings at some point,” he said, adding, “South Africa’s doors remain open for the US,” while discussions continue toward an ambitious declaration for Africa, the Global South, and the world.
Lamola suggested the flight was part of a “broader agenda” to relocate Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank to multiple countries. “It's a clearly orchestrated operation because they are not only being sent to South Africa. There are other countries where such flights have been sent,” he told reporters.
The government is “suspicious” about the circumstances surrounding the plane’s arrival, Lamola said, noting that authorities are investigating and aiming for a comprehensive outcome. He added that current information suggests the passengers lacked the required permits. Last Thursday, South Africa granted a 90-day visa exemption to 153 Palestinians who had arrived from Kenya to seek asylum, despite initial entry denial over missing travel documents.
Lamola cited reports that a Gaza-based association charges Palestinians around $2,000 for chartered flights to countries including Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Africa. He warned, “We do not want any further flights to come our way because this is a clear agenda to cleanse out the Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank.”
The announcement came as South Africa, currently holding the G20 presidency, prepared to host the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg on Nov. 22-23. US President Donald Trump said no US officials would attend, accusing South Africa of “human rights abuses” against the white Afrikaner population. Lamola described the US absence as “nonattendance” and said negotiations on the leaders’ declaration are ongoing.
He noted that four nations would not be represented at the head-of-state level: Russia, Mexico, and Argentina by foreign ministers, and China by Premier Li Qiang. Lamola said such delegations are normal at multilateral forums and not intended as a “snub or undermining of Africa.”
South Africa’s draft G20 declaration focuses on global development, diversity as a strength, and fostering open, fair negotiations. “Even with the US, when they raised concerns, we did our best to accommodate them, and they did come back into some of the meetings at some point,” he said, adding, “South Africa’s doors remain open for the US,” while discussions continue toward an ambitious declaration for Africa, the Global South, and the world.
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