South Africa’s Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola on Monday criticised a plane that arrived in the country carrying more than 150 Palestinians, describing the incident as part of a broader agenda to remove Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank. Speaking to reporters, Lamola said the circumstances surrounding the chartered flight raised serious concerns about the intentions behind the transfer of the passengers.
“Indeed, we are suspicious about the circumstances surrounding the arrival of the plane and the passengers that were on the plane,” Lamola said. He described the incident as a “clearly orchestrated operation” and said it reflected a wider strategy aimed at relocating Palestinians from their territories.
The minister did not explicitly name the party he believed organised the chartered plane, but his comments were widely interpreted as an implicit accusation against Israel, suggesting the flight was part of a systematic effort to remove Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank and send them to other countries.
Israeli authorities, however, said that the Palestinians on the flight departed Gaza after Israel received approval from a third country to accept them. The Israeli authority responsible for civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories provided no further details on the process or the destination country.
The incident has reignited debate over Israel’s policies in the Palestinian territories. Rights groups have previously criticised plans reportedly endorsed by the Israeli government, including a pledge by former United States President Donald Trump, to relocate Gaza’s more than two million residents permanently. At the time, critics warned that such a plan would constitute ethnic cleansing and would prevent displaced Palestinians from returning to their homes.
Lamola’s comments underscore South Africa’s vocal support for Palestinian rights and its condemnation of any actions perceived as attempts to displace Palestinians forcibly. The government’s criticism comes amid ongoing regional tensions and growing international scrutiny over the treatment of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank.
The arrival of the plane in South Africa has raised questions about the role of third countries in facilitating such transfers and the potential implications for international law and human rights protections. South African officials have indicated that they will seek further clarification from relevant authorities to ensure the rights and safety of the passengers are respected.
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