South Africa Scraps Palestinian Visa Exemption

South African authorities have officially revoked the 90-day visa exemption previously granted to Palestinians. Officials cited serious concerns that the policy was being exploited to facilitate “forced migration.”

This significant policy change follows the recent arrival of a charter flight carrying 153 passengers. Government authorities suspect this flight was part of a coordinated effort to relocate people permanently.

Minister Allegations of Exploitation

Dr. Leon Schreiber, the Minister of Home Affairs, addressed the situation directly. He stated that the recent flight, along with a similar one in October, was organized by Israeli actors. According to Schreiber, these groups are intent on moving residents out of the Gaza Strip.

Schreiber condemned the operation as a clear abuse of the visa system. Furthermore, he described it as an exploitation of the passengers themselves. He noted that the organizers appeared willing to abandon the travelers upon arrival in South Africa, leaving them destitute and without support.

Secret Flights Alarm Rights Groups

The secretive nature of these airlifts has raised alarms among human rights organizations. Many groups fear that the Israeli government is actively attempting to expel Palestinians from Gaza.

In response to these allegations, the Israeli body overseeing civilian policies issued a defense. They claimed the passengers departed the Gaza Strip only after specific protocols were met. They insisted that Israel received confirmation that a third country had approved the passengers’ entry before the flight left.

Controversial Relocation Plans

This diplomatic friction occurs against a backdrop of intense geopolitical tension. It coincides with Israel’s support for a proposal by US President Donald Trump.

The proposal suggests permanently removing more than 2 million Palestinians currently living in Gaza. Human rights groups have strongly condemned this plan, warning that it would amount to ethnic cleansing.