Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read
15 November 2025 | 12:45 CAT

A humanitarian crisis unfolded at OR Tambo International Airport when a chartered flight carrying traumatised Palestinian civilians including injured children, pregnant women and elderly passengers was left stranded on the tarmac for nearly 12 hours. The circumstances surrounding the incident have prompted urgent calls for transparency, accountability and decisive action from South African authorities.

Dr Imtiaz Sooliman of Gift of the Givers, who intervened from the early hours of the morning, described the situation as “completely unnecessary” and “inhumane”, stressing that multiple warning signs suggested the evacuation was irregular.

“This wasn’t a normal evacuation,” Dr Sooliman said. “The first flight was even worse sinister. Nobody knew about it. The people didn’t even know they were coming to South Africa.”

According to Sooliman, passengers on both the first and second flights were transported from Gaza under dubious circumstances, allegedly coordinated by front organisations posing as humanitarian agencies, charging desperate families up to $2,000 to escape a war-torn region. Many were moved through Karim Shalom, then to the Ramon military base, before being flown to Kenya and eventually to South Africa often without being informed of their destination.

The first group, he noted, was allowed entry into South Africa despite missing exit stamps and incomplete documents, raising the question: Why was the second group blocked for hours under identical circumstances?

Gift of the Givers says it alerted authorities days before the arrival of the second flight. However, despite assurances from several government channels including DIRCO, Home Affairs, and the Border Management Authority (BMA) the passengers were abruptly barred upon landing.

Sooliman described scenes of severe distress: a sweltering plane with no functioning air-conditioning, one toilet for over 100 people, a child suffering a seizure, and pregnant women struggling without medical care. “Your attitude was totally inhumane,” he said, criticising officials who refused to let passengers disembark into the airport while paperwork was discussed.

He further revealed that a private letter from the BMA instructed the airline to return all undocumented passengers to Kenya by 19:30 a directive halted only after lawyers prepared an urgent interdict and high-level political intervention.
“There was some political ploy here to deliberately cause harm,” he argued.

Following public and NGO pressure, passengers were eventually allowed entry. They are now receiving medical assessments, temporary accommodation, and community support.

South Africans from across the country have begun offering donations, housing, transport and emotional support. “They just need rest, reassurance and support,” Sooliman emphasised.

He has now called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to launch a formal investigation into:

• Why the passengers were blocked for 12 hours
• Who issued contradictory instructions
• Why Home Affairs and BMA responses were inconsistent
• Whether airlines and authorities failed to follow refugee protocols
• Why no food or basic care was provided for 24 hours

With 130 refugees now safely registered in South Africa, the coming days will determine whether they apply for asylum, temporary visas, or onward travel to reunite with family abroad.

Gift of the Givers has vowed to continue supporting them and to push for the answers South Africans deserve.

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and dr Imtiaaz Sooliman.