Ramaphosa Orders Probe into ‘Mysterious’ Flight Carrying 153 Palestinians as Questions Emerge Over Nairobi Stop
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has directed security and aviation authorities to conduct a full investigation into the “mysterious” arrival of a chartered aircraft carrying 153 Palestinians from Gaza, after it emerged the plane may have passed through Nairobi without formal clearance.
The privately chartered flight landed at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport early on Monday, but passengers remained confined on board for more than ten hours as immigration officials raised concerns over irregular travel documents, including missing departure stamps from Gaza. Authorities also questioned who authorised the group’s departure from the region and how the journey was arranged.
Speaking at a public event in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa said the government was working to establish the circumstances behind the unannounced flight.
“We are trying to find out how they got to be on that plane,” the president said. “These Palestinians somehow mysteriously were put on a plane that passed by Nairobi, and we are looking into how this came about.”
Kenya has issued no public statement confirming whether the aircraft landed in Nairobi, refuelled, or was granted overflight clearance — a silence that has prompted diplomatic questions for officials in both countries.
Most of the travellers were later allowed entry into South Africa after what Ramaphosa described as an act of “empathy and compassion” for civilians fleeing the Gaza conflict. The president said South Africa could not turn away families escaping the “dire humanitarian situation” in the enclave.
According to the Palestinian Embassy in Pretoria, the group departed from Israel’s Ramon Airport but arrived in South Africa “without any prior note or coordination.” The Embassy further claimed an “unregistered and misleading organisation” had exploited desperate families by collecting money and arranging irregular travel, leaving authorities scrambling to verify identities and intentions upon arrival.
Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) confirmed that the Palestinians had been allowed to leave Gaza after approval from a “third country,” but declined to specify which nation had facilitated the clearance.
Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said immigration officials initially denied entry due to missing documentation, the absence of return tickets and unclear accommodation arrangements.
“There were questions that needed to be answered before entry could be granted,” Schreiber said, adding that officials had to ensure that none of the passengers intended to seek asylum unlawfully.
The situation shifted after South African aid organisation Gift of the Givers stepped in, confirming it would host the group and take responsibility for their welfare. Once officials verified that none planned to claim asylum, 130 passengers were granted entry. The remaining 23 continued to onward destinations.
Humanitarian groups criticised the hours-long delay on the tarmac, accusing authorities of denying food offered by aid workers and failing to provide timely updates to anxious families. Civil society organisations have called for a formal inquiry into the treatment of the travellers.
Ramaphosa has since promised a “proper evaluation” of the entire incident, saying the government would ensure accountability for any procedural lapses.
South Africa has been one of the most vocal international critics of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Last year, Pretoria filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, a move that sharply escalated diplomatic tensions.
The arrival of the Gaza evacuees — and the mystery surrounding the aircraft’s alleged stop in Nairobi — has now placed Kenya at the centre of fresh questions about the routes Palestinians are taking to escape the war, and the opaque networks facilitating their travel.
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Ramaphosa Orders Probe into ‘Mysterious’ Flight Carrying 153 Palestinians as Questions Emerge Over Nairobi Stop