alestinian Foreign Minister calls controversial Gaza evacuations part of ethnic cleansing

Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin has condemned flights transporting Palestinians from Gaza to South Africa, describing them as part of an illegal ethnic cleansing process.

The transfers, organised by Al-Majd Europe, have prompted Shahin to caution Palestinians against engaging with the group or any other organisation attempting to remove them from the Strip.

“Not enough is known about this organisation … but we are investigating, and we are getting several sources of information on the illegality of what they are doing,” she said following a bilateral meeting in Manila with the Philippines’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs Theresa Lazaro.

“What they are doing is actually displacement and part of the ethnic cleansing process. We need to send very strong messages to the people of Gaza not to have any dealings with Al-Majd or any other company doing the same kind of work,” Shahin added.

She emphasised that these flights constitute an attack on Palestinian rights and sovereignty, warning that participation could further endanger those being moved.

Israeli authorities have been accused of coordinating with such organisations in efforts that critics say aim to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, in violation of international law.