US EditionSA pulls 90-day Palestinian visa waiver after charter-flight 'abuse' probe
South Africa revoked the visa exemption after 153 Palestinians arrived via charter flights abused by intermediaries linked to Israeli 'voluntary emigration' efforts, officials said.
- Following Security Cluster recommendations, the Department of Home Affairs withdrew the 90-day visa exemption for Palestinian ordinary passport holders after investigations found deliberate abuse by Israeli-linked actors, the department said Saturday.
- In mid-November, a charter flight landed carrying 153 Gazans who were held onboard for about 12 hours at OR Tambo International Airport due to documentation issues and one-way tickets.
- Investigations traced routes via Ramon Airport and Nairobi, with passengers paying roughly $2,000 or $1,000–$1,500 to Al-Majd Europe, linked to Tomer Yanar Lind.
- DHA will process asylum applications from the travellers and granted about 130 90-day visas, while most arrivals were placed under the care of the NGO Gift of the Givers.
- Amid signs of a larger scheme, investigators warned the flights were not one-offs, with the Department of Home Affairs revealing a Dubai-based broker with offices in South Africa requested bulk charters; officials said South Africa `will not be complicit` and will reject further abuse.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Home Affairs revokes 90-day visa-free entry exemption for Palestinians
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has revoked the 90-day visa-free entry previously granted to holders of ordinary Palestinian passports, following an investigation that uncovered what officials describe as the deliberate exploitation of the exemption. “Following investigations and recommendations by national intelligence structures and consultations conducted within the Security Cluster – which confirmed the deliberate and ongoing abuse…
South Africa withdraws 90-day visa exemption for Palestinians over fears of link to forced migration
South African authorities have withdrawn a 90-day visa exemption for Palestinians, saying the recent arrival of a charter flight with 153 people onboard was part of a campaign of “forced migration.”
Pretoria halts visa waiver for Palestinians after Gaza flights
South Africa has withdrawn its 90-day visa exemption for Palestinian Authority passport holders over concern the longstanding policy was being used to relocate Gazans, the country’s Department of Home Affairs announced on Saturday.
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