Investigation Underway After Flight from Kenya Detained

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered a full investigation into the “mysterious” arrival of 153 Palestinians on a charter flight that transited through Nairobi, Kenya, before landing at O.R. Tambo International Airport on Thursday, 13 November 2025. The group, which included families with children and a nine-month pregnant woman, was held on the tarmac for approximately 12 hours under distressing conditions due to a lack of proper travel documentation, sparking a humanitarian intervention and a high-level government response.

The passengers, who originated from war-torn Gaza, arrived aboard a Global Airways charter flight on Thursday morning. South Africa’s Border Management Authority (BMA) initially denied them entry, citing the absence of customary departure stamps in their passports, no confirmed accommodation details, and no return tickets. Officials reported that the conditions on the plane were “excruciatingly hot,” with children crying and distressed. The standoff was resolved late Thursday evening after the South African humanitarian organization, Gift of the Givers Foundation, intervened, offering to accommodate and support the group. Following this intervention, the Ministry of Home Affairs granted entry to 130 of the Palestinians on a standard 90-day visa exemption, citing “compassion and empathy.” The remaining 23 passengers had already departed for other international destinations.

The Kenyan Connection

President Ramaphosa explicitly highlighted the flight's stop in the Kenyan capital, stating the group was “somehow mysteriously were put on a plane that passed by Nairobi and came here.” This has placed Kenya’s role in the perplexing journey under scrutiny. According to the Palestinian embassy in South Africa, the flight originated from Israel's Ramon Airport. Imtiaz Sooliman, the founder of Gift of the Givers, revealed that the passengers were unaware of their final destination until they were in Kenya. “The Palestinians had no idea where they were bundled off to, only when in Kenya did they realise they were coming to South Africa,” Sooliman stated. As of Friday, 14 November 2025, the Kenyan government had not issued any public statement on the matter. This silence leaves critical questions unanswered regarding the clearance of an international charter flight with undocumented passengers departing from Nairobi for South Africa.

Allegations of Exploitation

The Palestinian embassy in South Africa has condemned the organizers of the travel, attributing the journey to an “unregistered and misleading organisation.” The embassy stated this group “exploited the tragic humanitarian conditions of our people in Gaza, deceived families, collected money from them, and facilitated their travel in an irregular and irresponsible manner.” An anonymous Israeli military official identified an organization named Al-Majd as having arranged the transport. The Israeli military body COGAT, which controls Gaza's crossings, confirmed the group left after receiving approval from an unnamed third country to receive them.

South Africa’s Response and Regional Implications

President Ramaphosa affirmed that while the circumstances would be thoroughly investigated by intelligence services, the group would not be turned away. “Even though they do not have the necessary documents and papers, these are people from a strife-torn, a war-torn country, and out of compassion, out of empathy, we must receive them,” he told reporters on Friday, 14 November 2025. The incident is the second of its kind in recent weeks, with Gift of the Givers confirming another flight carrying 176 Palestinians arrived on 28 October 2025. South Africa has long been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause and has filed a case at the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. The arrival of these groups, and the transit route through Kenya, highlights the complex and often desperate measures taken by those fleeing the conflict, and raises significant questions for governments in the region regarding migration, security protocols, and humanitarian responsibilities.