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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has stated that an inquiry will be initiated into the unexplained landing of a chartered plane bringing 153 Palestinians from Gaza into the territory.

Initial Entry Rejection

The passengers arrived at OR Tambo International Airport but were originally blocked from entering and were forced to stay in the aircraft for more than 10 hours as they "lacked the usual departure stamps in their passports", airport representatives stated.

The majority were ultimately permitted to enter after intervention from a South African aid group and because of the leadership's "empathy [and] humanity", Ramaphosa said.

The details of their leaving from the Gaza Strip and journey to the country remain unclear.

Diplomatic Setting

South Africa has continued strong support for the Palestinian cause throughout the conflict between Hamas and the Israeli government in the Gaza Strip.

Ramaphosa stated the travelers "somehow unexplainably were put on a jet that passed by Nairobi" and traveled to the nation.

"These individuals exited the Gaza territory after obtaining approval from a another state to receive them," announced an defense organization that manages Gaza's crossings.

Official Statement

According to the Palestinian embassy in South Africa, the travelers exited an Israeli airport and journeyed to the country via the Kenya's main city, "absent previous coordination or coordination".

A declaration from the official office claimed "an unregistered and misleading entity [had] used the devastating circumstances of our citizens in Gaza, deceived households, collected money from them, and arranged their journey in an improper and careless fashion".

Latest Circumstances

Of the 153 passengers, 23 succeeded to continue to other locations, with 130 who were admitted into the territory, government officials confirm.

Ramaphosa, addressing during an gathering in the urban center, said he was made aware of the unfolding situation by the home affairs minister.

In response, the president stated "we must not send them away", per South African reporting.

"While they lack the appropriate papers and documents, these are individuals from a war-ravaged, a war-torn country," he continued.

Government Response

The leader also told journalists the South African government would perform a "comprehensive evaluation" of the situation and update the citizens on "ongoing events and the manner in which this case came to be where it is", per government television.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber commented that while travelers from Palestine qualified for 90-day visa-exempt admission to South Africa, the absence of passport endorsements, homeward journeys or housing locations in certain of the individuals' documentation resulted in the original refusal to permit their entry to the country.

When it was established that the absence of this details "did not indicate that the passengers wanted to apply for asylum" and their lodging was verified, they were allowed in.

"All of the passengers are in ownership of valid travel documents and, now, none of them have requested refuge," he stated.

Humanitarian Response

South African charity has said it will supply the travelers with lodging in the territory.

Civil societies in South Africa have called for investigations into the conditions the individuals had escaped in the Gaza Strip and the specific path of the jet.

A single of the Palestinians who communicated with South African news voiced his thankfulness to be in South Africa, portraying it as a country of "tranquility, rules and fairness".

"We arrived from the Gaza Strip where we've encountered death on every day. We have survived a conflict of two years and we are lucky to be in this place," stated an individual who had departed with his spouse and kids.

Criticism and Requests for Accountability

The aid foundation has afterwards demanded Ramaphosa to investigate the home affairs ministry and customs service for the "embarrassment they've inflicted" the Palestinian nationals.

The foundation's founder claimed this conduct involved being forced to wait for hours on the airport area at the airport, being prevented from receiving nourishment provided by the organization and "using all possible reasons in the book to block these individuals from exiting the aircraft".

Long-standing Backing

The country has been sharply disapproving of the nation's military operation in the Gaza Strip.

The nation's support for the Palestinian cause for an sovereign nation dates back many years, notably the start of the last decade when national hero Nelson Mandela vowed backing for the Palestinian cause.

Significant in favor of Palestinian rights marches have been organized across South Africa since the war began.

More limited supporting Israel demonstrations and events have been organized in the state, which hosts the most significant Jewish population in sub-Saharan Africa.

In the previous year, the country's leadership submitted a case against the nation with the global judicial body, charging it of genocide in the Gaza Strip. Israel has strongly rejected the allegation, labeling it "without foundation".