Mystery Gaza Flight Sparks Diplomatic Rift Between South Africa, Israel and Kenya

A chartered flight carrying more than 150 Palestinians from Gaza has prompted a diplomatic dispute involving South Africa, Israel and Kenya.

The aircraft landed at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday with 153 passengers. President Cyril Ramaphosa said the next day that the government had not authorised their entry and described the circumstances of the flight as unusual. He confirmed that intelligence services and the Department of Home Affairs had launched an investigation to determine who arranged the journey.

Border Management Authority officials reported irregularities in the passengers’ documents. Some lacked departure stamps, while others had no return tickets or accommodation details. The group remained on the runway for nearly ten hours before being allowed to disembark, a delay criticised by activists and humanitarian groups. 

South African authorities later granted the passengers a 90-day visa exemption after an NGO agreed to provide accommodation. By then, 23 of the refugees had already travelled onward, leaving 130 in Johannesburg.

Responsibility for the flight is disputed. Israel’s military liaison office, Cogat, which oversees Gaza, has said it organised the departure and claimed that South Africa had approved the arrival. 

In a statement to international media, Cogat said the passengers left Gaza “after Cogat received approval from a third country to receive them”, later identifying that country as South Africa. Ramaphosa has rejected this, insisting his government was not informed.

Kenya’s role also remains unclear. The plane reportedly passed through Nairobi, but it is not known whether Kenyan authorities were involved beyond refuelling. The Kenyan government has not issued a public statement.

This is the second such arrival in two months, following an October flight that carried 176 Palestinians to Johannesburg.