Transit of 153 Palestinians to South Africa coordinated with Israel

A chartered flight carrying over 150 Palestinians from Gaza to South Africa was facilitated by a controversial agency in close collaboration with the Israeli military, Al Jazeera is reporting. The evacuees arrived in Johannesberg on Thursday without proper documentation or coordination.

An Israeli military official told AP that an organisation called Al-Majd arranged for their transit. According to Al Jazeera, the organisation posted an advert promising safe passage to Palestinians out of Gaza.

The evacuees reportedly crossed the "yellow line" ringing Gaza with the cooperation of the Israeli authorities. A  bus then transferred them to the Kerem Shalom crossing, and then to Ramon airport in southern Israel.

Despite initially denying them entry, South Africa granted a 90-day via exemption for the evacuees.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry commended the decision, but warned that companies inciting Palestinians to relocate "will bear the legal consequences of their unlawful practices and will be subject to prosecution and accountability.”

It further stressed that human trafficking constitutes “a crime under international and national law that will not be tolerated.”