The Israeli army's claim that Gazans who arrived in South Africa on a mysterious plane had been granted entry has sparked controversy. Shimi Zuaretz, a spokesman for COGAT, the Israeli body managing civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, stated that the Palestinians were only allowed to leave Gaza after COGAT received approval from a third country to receive them. This third country was later identified as South Africa itself.
The admission from the Israeli spokesperson is significant, as it suggests that South Africa invited and authorized the arrival of these Gazans. However, facing backlash from South African citizens and civil society groups who fear Israel's intentions, South Africa backtracked and claimed ignorance. This sudden change in tone from the Israeli army has raised concerns.
The Gazans were kept on the plane for 12 hours after landing in Johannesburg due to the absence of departure stamps from Israel in their passports. The home affairs ministry eventually allowed them to disembark when an NGO, Gift of the Givers, offered accommodation. The NGO, however, claimed ignorance about the chartering of the flight and a previous one that brought 176 Gazans on October 28.
An Israeli official revealed that the organization coordinating the transfer had submitted third-country visas to COGAT for all evacuated residents. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa described the situation as people from Gaza being 'mysteriously put on a plane' that passed through Nairobi and arrived in South Africa. The home affairs ministry confirmed that 130 of the group entered South Africa, while 23 took onward flights.
COGAT's role in facilitating the departure of Gaza residents through Israel to receiving countries is well-documented, particularly for patients requiring medical treatment, dual citizens, and their family members, as well as those with visas to third countries. Israel's decisions are based solely on requests from foreign countries, and since the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, more than 40,000 Gaza residents have been evacuated.
South Africa, with the largest Jewish community in sub-Saharan Africa, has historically supported the Palestinian cause. The government filed a case against Israel with the International Court of Justice in 2023, accusing it of genocide in Gaza. This complex situation highlights the ongoing tensions and the need for further investigation into the mysterious plane's purpose and the motivations behind the Israeli army's claims.
