Gaza warned over ‘displacement agents’ as Palestinians taken abroad through unofficial routes

Key Concepts

• Gaza Strip: A Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
• Yellow Line: An area under Israeli military control covering all crossings in and out of the Gaza Strip.
• Karim Abu Salam Crossing: A border crossing between Gaza and Israel.
• Rammon International Airport: An airport in southern Israel.
• Almajied Europe: An organization identified as being behind the transfer of Palestinians from Gaza.
• Shabak (Shin Bet): Israel's internal security agency.
• Disaster Capitalism: The practice of profiting from crises and disasters.
• Ethnic Cleansing: The forced removal of a population from a territory.
• International Criminal Court (ICC): An intergovernmental organization that investigates and prosecutes individuals for international crimes.

Palestinian Departure from Gaza and Arrival in South Africa

A group exceeding 150 Palestinians departed from the Gaza Strip, a process that involved crossing the "yellow line," an area under Israeli military control governing all entry and exit points. They were transported via bus through the Karim Abu Salam crossing to Rammon International Airport in southern Israel. From there, they boarded a flight that transited through Nairobi, Kenya, before arriving in Johannesburg, South Africa, on a Thursday morning.

Initial Denial of Entry and Subsequent Admission

Upon arrival in Johannesburg, the group was initially denied entry by South Africa's border management authority due to a lack of Israeli departure stamps in their passports. They remained on the tarmac at O.R. Tambo International Airport for several hours without adequate provisions, including food, water, and air circulation, until the decision was reversed. Approximately 120 individuals were permitted to enter South Africa, while others continued their journeys to different countries.

Organization Behind the Transfer and Associated Costs

The civil society coalition assisting the Palestinians indicated to Al Jazeera that an organization named Almagedd Europe is believed to be responsible for facilitating these transfers. It is estimated that each Palestinian on board the flight was charged between $1,500 and $5,000 for their departure from Gaza. Furthermore, individuals were reportedly only permitted to carry their mobile phones, money, and a single backpack.

Testimonial from a Previous Traveler

Wisam Bashir, who arrived in South Africa two weeks prior on a similar chartered flight arranged through Almagedd Europe, corroborated these details. He stated that he registered online and paid $6,000 for himself, his wife, and their two children. Bashir also mentioned that they were only allowed to leave with the clothes they were wearing, their passports, and their phones. He expressed that while Palestinians do not wish to leave their land, the "Israeli occupation" indirectly forces them to do so through conditions like denial of food and water, imprisonment, and destruction of property.

South African Government's Response and Investigation

The South African government has announced its intention to investigate how an unregistered organization managed to arrange such travel. Those who have entered South Africa have indicated their desire to apply for asylum, though this has not yet been officially submitted. The South African government has pledged to provide assistance to the extent possible.

Analysis of the Operation and Potential Motivations

Anthony Loewenstein, author of "The Palestine Laboratory," suggests that such operations require both Israeli permission and the cooperation of the destination countries. He finds it noteworthy that South Africa, a country known for its pro-Palestine stance and its efforts to bring cases against Israel before the International Criminal Court, was the apparent final destination. Loewenstein describes the website of the organizing company as "incredibly strange," appearing almost AI-generated with no clear names or associations, leading him to suspect elements of "disaster capitalism." He views the situation as a potential form of "ethnic cleansing," emphasizing that while he does not begrudge Palestinians seeking to leave, he criticizes the organizers and the Israeli state for facilitating such departures. Loewenstein expresses concern that this could be part of a broader Israeli objective to remove Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, a goal he believes has not changed despite any supposed ceasefires. He draws parallels to desperate individuals seeking better lives in other conflict zones like Iraq and Afghanistan, but highlights the involvement of the Israeli state in facilitating these departures, particularly given the stated desires of some Israeli ministers and the public to have no Palestinians remaining in Gaza.