Gaza Residents Pay 2,000 US Dollars To Fly To South Africa

JAKARTA - Residents of the Gaza Strip, Palestinians claim to pay 2.000 US dollars per seat to fly their families to South Africa on a group-regulated trip out of the enclave.

Two Gazans interviewed by Reuters said they were among 130 Palestinians allowed in by South Africa after being transported by bus from Gaza and flown from Israeli airport last week. They arrived in Johannesburg on Thursday after stopping in Nairobi.

The two Palestinians said they saw an online advertisement posted by an organization called Al-Majd Europe offering the opportunity to leave Gaza, and signed up about six months ago. The offer is only open to families and requires applicants to have passports.

The two Palestinians finally received a message from Al-Majd Europe via WhatsApp telling them security clearance had been granted. They left Gaza by bus and were taken via the Israel-controlled EMAIL crossing before being flown out of Ramon Airport. They arrived in South Africa on November 13.

"I am a lymphoma cancer patient. How long do I have to wait to be evacuated. I have to go for treatment and for a better life for my family," said 42-year-old Ramzi Abu Youssef, to Reuters by telephone from Johannesburg.

Abu Youssef left with his wife and three children, aged 8, 10, and 12, saying his two daughters had died in an Israeli attack in June 2024 during a raid on Al-Nuseirat Camp, where their homes were destroyed.

The second Palestinian, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of his safety and irritated his new host, said his family had heavy heartedly decided to leave Gaza after being bombarded for months and forced to flee his home in Deir al-Balah several times.

At the age of 35, he went out with his wife and two children, a four-year-old boy and a two-year-old girl.

The Palestinian arrived at Johannesburg airport on a Global Airways chartered flight from Kenya. Border authorities say they do not have a departure stamp, round ticket, or accommodation details.

Abu Youssef said the group had received a 90-day visa and some of them stayed in the hostel, while others, including himself, were accommodated by members of the Muslim community in Johannesburg.

Twenty-three people on the flight went to another destination.

Reuters sent an email to Al-Majd Europe via the address listed on their website, but did not immediately receive a reply. No phone number.

Separately, South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola, whose government has long supported Palestinian national aspirations and accused Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza war, on Monday said South African authorities were investigating what he called a suspicious situation behind the arrival of the plane.

"This seems to be a broader agenda to expel Palestinians from Palestine," he said at a press conference.

Israel itself rejects allegations of genocide in Gaza, stating its military campaign is targeting militant groups Hamas, not civilians.

When asked about Lamola's comments, an Israeli government spokesman said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had "asserted that Palestinians wanted to leave, they should be allowed to leave the Gaza Strip. And if they wanted to return to the Gaza Strip, they should also be allowed to return."

The spokesman did not directly answer questions about how a group of Palestinians ended up in South Africa.

Meanwhile, COGAT, Israel's military agency overseeing civilian affairs in Gaza, said the Gazans left after receiving approval from an unnamed third country to accept them, and they had valid visas.

Their request for departure includes "documents confirming the authorization to land in South Africa," he said.

Lamola said "at this stage, the information we have is that they do not have the necessary approval and permission," adding that the matter is being investigated.

In May, Reuters reported Israel had relaxed restrictions on Palestinians leaving Gaza, and about 1,000 of them had been transported by bus out of the region to board flights to Europe and other countries.

The departure required a request from foreign governments to Israel, Reuters reported at the time.