A shadowy organization with no verifiable credentials secretly evacuated hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza to South Africa without government coordination, raising alarming questions about unauthorized mass immigration operations.

Unregistered Organization Orchestrates Secret Evacuations

Al-Majd Europe, an organization with minimal public presence and non-working contact details, arranged two charter flights carrying Palestinians from Gaza to Johannesburg without notifying South African authorities. The group’s website was created less than a year ago, has no verifiable organizational structure, and operates without official registration. This lack of transparency raises serious concerns about who is funding these operations and what their true motives might be for facilitating mass population transfers.

The first flight on October 28, 2025, carried 176 Palestinians who were processed normally upon arrival. However, the second flight on November 14 presented major red flags when 153 passengers were held on the aircraft for over 10 hours due to missing exit stamps and unclear immigration status. These documentation failures suggest a coordinated effort to circumvent proper immigration procedures and established protocols for refugee resettlement.

Government Launches Investigation Into Immigration Bypass

South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola accused Israel of orchestrating a “cleansing agenda” and demanded transparency regarding the flights’ true purpose. President Cyril Ramaphosa called for accountability while emphasizing humanitarian concerns.

The Palestinian Embassy warned against exploitation by unofficial organizations, highlighting how displaced people become vulnerable to manipulation by unaccountable actors operating outside established humanitarian frameworks.

The timing of these arrivals during South Africa’s G20 summit hosting duties amplified international scrutiny. Local civil society groups, including Gift of the Givers, assisted the arrivals but criticized the government’s handling of the situation. The lack of coordination strained resources and created humanitarian challenges for people seeking legitimate refuge, demonstrating how unauthorized operations can undermine both national sovereignty and genuine humanitarian efforts.

South Africa Suspends Future Charter Operations

Following the investigation launch, South Africa announced it will refuse further charter flights of Palestinians until the situation is clarified.

This decisive action protects national borders while ensuring proper vetting procedures for humanitarian arrivals. The government is reviewing immigration policies to prevent similar unauthorized mass arrivals that bypass established refugee resettlement channels and proper documentation requirements.

The 130 Palestinians who remained in South Africa after the second flight continue receiving assistance from local charities, though resources are increasingly strained.

This situation demonstrates how unauthorized immigration operations create unforeseen burdens on communities and charitable organizations while potentially undermining public support for legitimate refugee assistance programs.

Sources:

After Hundreds of Gazans Arrive on Mystery Flights, South Africa Asks How

South Africa to refuse charter flights of Palestinians over fears of ‘cleansing agenda’

All you need to know about Palestinian ‘mystery flights’ to South Africa

Israel army says Gazans on ‘mystery plane’ to South Africa were granted entry by third country