South Africa 'suspicious' over 'agenda to cleanse Palestinians out of Gaza', foreign minister says

The arrival in South Africa of 153 Palestinians on a plane last week was "suspicious" and indicated "a clear agenda to cleanse Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank," the foreign minister said Monday.

The group arrived on a chartered flight and without departure stamps from Israel on their passports.

"We are suspicious as a South African government about the circumstances surrounding the arrival of the plane," Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said, adding: "This is a clear agenda to cleanse Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank."