Over 150 Palestinians Detained for 12 Hours at South African Airport Due to Documentation Issues

The origin of the charter plane carrying over 150 Palestinians to South Africa remains unclear.

South African authorities received significant backlash on Friday after detaining more than 150 Palestinians aboard a plane for approximately 12 hours due to issues with their travel documentation. Among the passengers was a woman in her ninth month of pregnancy.

A local pastor who was permitted to visit the stranded passengers reported that conditions inside the aircraft were extremely hot, with children crying and screaming in distress.

According to South Africa's Border Management Authority, the Palestinians arrived at Johannesburg's O.R. Tambo International Airport on Thursday morning on a charter flight that had previously stopped in Nairobi, Kenya.

Immigration officials denied entry to the Palestinian travelers because they lacked exit stamps from Israeli authorities, failed to specify the duration of their intended stay in South Africa, and did not provide local addresses.

The 153 passengers, including numerous families with children, were finally allowed to disembark Thursday evening following intervention from South Africa's Ministry of Home Affairs and assistance offered by a non-governmental organization called Gift of the Givers, which arranged accommodation. The Border Management Authority later confirmed that 23 passengers had continued their journey to other countries, leaving 130 individuals in South Africa.

Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, stated that this was the second aircraft carrying Palestinians to arrive in South Africa within a two-week period. He indicated that the passengers themselves were uncertain of their destination and believed both flights were transporting people escaping the conflict in Gaza.

Nigel Branken, a South African pastor granted access to the aircraft while it remained on the tarmac, informed the national broadcaster SABC that many of the Palestinians now intended to seek asylum in South Africa.

South Africa has historically been a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, making the treatment of these travelers particularly controversial.

"The situation is dire," Branken described in his SABC interview from the plane on Thursday. "When I boarded the aircraft, it was unbearably hot. Many children were sweating, screaming, and crying."

"This approach does not reflect South Africa's values. At minimum, these individuals should be permitted to enter the airport and apply for asylum. This represents a fundamental right guaranteed by our constitution."

This report has not undergone editing by staff and was automatically generated from syndicated content.