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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that an investigation will be initiated into the puzzling landing of a leased jet bringing 153 Palestinians from Gaza into the territory.

First Entry Refusal

The passengers touched down at OR Tambo International Airport but were originally denied admission and remained in the aircraft for over 10 hours as they "lacked the standard exit markings in their travel documents", airport representatives reported.

Most were eventually granted entry after assistance from a local charity and because of the government's "compassion [and] sympathy", Ramaphosa stated.

The particulars of their exit from the Gaza Strip and flight to the nation remain unclear.

Political Context

The nation has maintained firm backing for the Palestinian struggle amid the conflict between the Hamas organization and the Israeli government in the Gaza Strip.

Ramaphosa commented the travelers "in some way mysteriously were placed aboard a plane that stopped in Nairobi" and continued to South Africa.

"These individuals exited the Palestinian enclave after obtaining authorization from a another state to receive them," stated an defense organization that manages Gaza's entry-exit locations.

Official Declaration

According to the Palestinian embassy in the country, the travelers exited a facility in Israel and traveled to the nation via the Kenya's main city, "lacking advance notification or planning".

A statement from the embassy said "an unauthorized and misleading entity [had] exploited the devastating circumstances of our nationals in Gaza, misled families, collected money from them, and organized their journey in an improper and irresponsible way".

Current Circumstances

Of the 153 individuals, 23 managed to fly on to other destinations, resulting in 130 who were admitted into the country, government officials report.

Ramaphosa, talking during an function in the city, stated he was informed of the ongoing situation by the home affairs minister.

In reply, the president said "we must not turn them back", per South African reporting.

"Although they lack the appropriate papers and documents, these are individuals from a conflict-ridden, a violence-plagued land," he remarked.

Official Action

The president also stated to media representatives the country's leadership would perform a "thorough review" of the issue and update the people on "what is happening and the way this case occurred where it is", as stated by government television.

Interior Official Leon Schreiber said that while individuals with Palestinian documents qualified for 90-day visa-exempt admission to South Africa, the lack of exit markings, return tickets or accommodation addresses in some of the travellers' documentation led to the original denial to allow them into the territory.

After it was determined that the non-presence of this information "did not indicate that the individuals intended to apply for protection" and their lodging was verified, they were granted entry.

"Each of the individuals are in ownership of current passports and, currently, zero of them have requested refuge," he said.

Support Efforts

Domestic aid group has stated it will supply the group with lodging in the nation.

Community groups in the country have demanded examinations into the situation the Palestinians had fled in Gaza and the specific journey of the plane.

One of the Palestinians who was interviewed by domestic television expressed his relief to be in the nation, describing it as a country of "harmony, regulations and equity".

"We arrived from Gaza where we've experienced death on regularly. We have survived a conflict of an extended period and we are lucky to be in this place," stated an individual who had fled with his partner and kids.

Criticism and Requests for Investigation

The charity group has since called for Ramaphosa to investigate the government agency and customs service for the "embarrassment they've inflicted" the travelers.

The group's founder said this treatment involved being forced to stay for an extended period on the airport area at the airport, being refused food supplied by the organization and "utilizing every excuse in the manual to block these travelers from exiting the aircraft".

Traditional Support

The country has been highly critical of the nation's military operation in Gaza.

The country's solidarity for the Palestinian cause for an self-governing country goes back many years, particularly the beginning of the 1990s when historical figure Nelson Mandela committed support for the Palestinian rights.

Significant in favor of Palestinian rights demonstrations have been organized throughout South Africa since the conflict commenced.

Less numerous in favor of Israeli policies demonstrations and events have been organized in the country, which has the most significant Jewish community in the region.

In 2023, the South African government filed a legal action against the nation with the International Court of Justice, alleging it of systematic destruction in the Gaza Strip. Israel has firmly denied the accusation, calling it "baseless".