Johannesburg – More than 100 Palestinians who were stuck on a plane at OR Tambo International Airport have finally been allowed to disembark and enter South Africa.
The impasse began in the morning on Thursday, 13 November 2025, when a group of 153 Palestinians from Gaza arrived in Johannesburg on an EgyptAir flight from Cairo without the requirements to enter South Africa.
The group was initially denied entry by the Border Management Authority due to incomplete travel documents and a lack of visas.
After hours of negotiation, the Home Affairs Department allowed the Palestinians to disembark and pursue asylum claims while under supervision.
At least 130 Palestinians were granted temporary transit visas, allowing the group, including children and pregnant women, to enter South Africa.
As many as 23 Palestinians have left for other destinations.
Humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers provided aid during the standoff and arranged temporary accommodation, highlighting South Africa’s balancing act between Palestinian solidarity and immigration enforcement ahead of the G20 summit.
Meanwhile, the embassy of the State of Palestine in South Africa has confirmed that it has been working with the South African authorities to resolve the humanitarian situation involving the arrival of 153 Palestinians.
The embassy said the Palestinians came from Gaza via Ramon Airport through Nairobi without any prior notice or coordination.
In that regard, the embassy said it highly appreciates the sovereign and human decision of the government of South Africa to grant 90-day entry visas for the Palestinian passengers.
“This is a mere reflection of South Africa’s long-standing principled support for the Palestinian people,” the embassy said.
The embassy said the travel of the 153 Palestinians was arranged by an “unregistered and misleading organisation that exploited the tragic humanitarian conditions of our people in Gaza, deceived families, collected money from them, and facilitated their travel in an irregular and irresponsible manner.
“This entity later attempted to disown any responsibility once complications arose”.
Home Affairs Minister Dr. Leon Schreiber said: “The department will continue to work with the Palestinian embassy and the rest of the South African security cluster to probe these claims.
“However, even as we do so, we remain steadfast in our commitment to safeguarding the dignity of vulnerable people at all times.”
The embassy said it “strongly urges our people in Gaza to be vigilant in engaging in any way with such organizations or any unofficial intermediaries.
“For their own safety and proper coordination, Palestinian citizens are encouraged to communicate with the Embassy of the State of Palestine in South Africa or with officially recognized Palestinian institutions.”
