Shadowy group accused of funnelling Palestinians out of Gaza as South Africa probes 'mysterious' flight

South Africa has launched an investigation into a chartered aircraft that arrived in Johannesburg carrying more than 150 Palestinians who had left Gaza under murky circumstances, amid growing warnings from Palestinian authorities about covert networks facilitating the removal of Palestinians from the enclave in coordination with Israel.

The flight, which arrived at OR Tambo International Airport after passing through Nairobi, left 153 passengers stuck for more than ten hours because their passports contained no departure stamps.

Most were eventually allowed to enter the country, receiving 90-day visas after intervention by the charity Gift of the Givers and what President Cyril Ramaphosa described as the government's "empathy [and] compassion". Twenty-three passengers continued onward to other destinations.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked South Africa for admitting the group but issued a sharp warning to Palestinians inside Gaza, urging them to avoid "unregistered and misleading organisations" operating inside the occupied territory.

The ministry said such groups were exploiting families trapped under two years of Israeli bombardment and destruction, acting as "agents of displacement" aligned with Israeli interests in forcibly removing Palestinians from the besieged enclave.

The organisation that arranged the flight, calling itself Al Majd Europe, is now the focus of scrutiny in both South Africa and Palestine.

Al Jazeera investigations found the group appears to have no physical presence at its listed headquarters in Sheikh Jarrah in occupied East Jerusalem.

Its website, registered in 2025, lists a location in Iceland and displays AI-generated images of supposed "executives". The website accepts payment through cryptocurrency and bank transfers to private individuals rather than any registered institution.

The company did not respond to requests for comment.
 

'Strong coordination' between the group and Israeli forces

A Palestinian man who left Gaza using the group’s services told Al Jazeera that there was "strong coordination" between Al Majd Europe and the Israeli army throughout the process.

He said passengers were driven on buses through the Israeli-controlled Karem Abu Salem crossing into southern Israel before flying out of Ramon Airport.

He said Israel did not stamp their passports because it does not recognise a Palestinian state. The group was flown on a Romanian aircraft to Kenya.

None of the passengers knew where they would end up. He said the process involved online registration, screening and payments ranging from $1,500 to $6,000 per person. Only minimal belongings were allowed.

A second Palestinian, identifying himself as Omar, told the outlet that an Al Majd Europe representative had quoted him an initial down payment of $2,500 but rejected his request because the group does not accept solo travellers.

Journalists in Gaza report that despite the risks, many residents feel driven to consider such schemes because of the collapse of daily life after two years of Israeli genocide, the destruction of homes and schools, and widespread famine conditions.

Renowned Gaza journalist Hind Khoudary said the lack of an educational future for children has pushed some families to explore any option to leave.

The Israeli military body responsible for Gaza's crossings said the Palestinians left after Israel received approval from a third country to receive them, without naming the country.

Israeli media reported that the transfers are part of a broader "voluntary departure" policy backed by Israel and the United States.

The Israeli army has already established a unit to encourage such departures as part of a slow, unofficial programme of ethnic cleansing, aimed at forcibly removing Palestinians in Gaza without formal expulsion orders.

South Africa is actively pursuing a case at the International Court of Justice, filed in December 2023, accusing Israel of violating the UN Genocide Convention through its actions in Gaza. Pretoria says that Israel's long-standing occupation, blockade and military operations amount to genocidal acts against the Palestinian population.