Airline says unaware Palestinian passengers would be denied SA entry
Global Airways has confirmed that 153 Palestinians seeking refugee status in South Africa, who travelled on a charter flight from Nairobi, Kenya, to Johannesburg, have been denied entry to South Africa.
The local airline says, as per South African immigration laws, it had shared the list of passengers and their travel credentials with the relevant South African authorities 24 hours before the charter flight’s departure.
Gift of the Givers facilitated the humanitarian effort with other civil society partners and will provide further assistance, legal and medical care.
According to Gift of the Givers, Israel deliberately did not stamp the passports of the refugees to exacerbate their suffering in a foreign country.
However, despite the Minister of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Ronald Lamola, and the Home Affairs Department intervening and waiving this requirement, the displaced Palestinians are still facing challenges.
In a statement, Global Airways says at no point before landing at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg were they informed that the passengers would be deemed inadmissible.
It says it’s cooperating with the Border Management Authority and will assist with the repatriation or onward travel arrangements for the affected passengers.