S. African withdraws visa exemption for Palestinians

(MENAFN) South Africans expressed varied opinions on Sunday after the Department of Home Affairs announced it had revoked the 90-day visa exemption for Palestinian passport holders. Officials cited concerns over “mysterious” flights from Israel that brought hundreds of Palestinians into the country.

In a statement issued Saturday, the department said the exemption was withdrawn following investigations that revealed “deliberate and ongoing abuse” of the 90-day visa privilege by Israeli actors, linked to so-called “voluntary emigration” efforts for residents of Gaza.

Last month, a charter flight from Israel, which stopped in Kenya, transported 153 Palestinian refugees from Gaza into South Africa. Another flight in late October brought in 176 Palestinians.

“Withdrawing the visa exemption is the most effective way to prevent further flights of this nature while ensuring that bona fide travelers from Palestine are safely able to visit South Africa without being subjected to abuse,” the department stated.

Officials emphasized that South Africa will not participate in any efforts to exploit or displace Palestinians from Gaza. Investigations suggested that the chartered flights were not isolated incidents but part of a broader, ongoing plan to relocate Palestinians internationally.

The department added that asylum applications from travelers arriving on these flights will be processed appropriately, while maintaining the 90-day exemption for those who do not seek asylum.

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