Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za
3-minute read | 13 November 2025 | 19:13 CAT

📸 Palestinian refugees onboard a chartered flight at OR Tambo International Airport wait anxiously for clearance, stranded for hours amid South Africa’s delay in processing their asylum applications.

A tense humanitarian crisis has erupted at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, where 160 Palestinian refugees, fleeing Israel’s relentless bombardment and genocide in Gaza remain stranded onboard a chartered flight after being denied entry into South Africa. The group, which includes women, children, and infants, arrived earlier today from Nairobi, but South African border authorities have so far refused to let them disembark or process their asylum applications.

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations Responding to the Crisis, chaired by Naeem Jeenah, has condemned the government’s handling of the situation, calling it “shameful,” “inhumane,” and “a stain on South Africa’s moral conscience.”

“They’ve arrived on our shores, not even knowing where they’re going to be sent to, and are asking for our help,” Jeenah told Radio Islam International. “We as a community are willing to help them as much as we can, but all we need is for the government to allow them through immigration so they can apply for asylum.”

According to Jeenah, the refugees were “hoodwinked by the Israelis”, who facilitated their evacuation from Gaza via a military airbase in Israel before transferring them to Nairobi, and finally to Johannesburg. Throughout their journey, their passports were never stamped, leaving them without valid exit or entry records.

“At no stage was their passport stamped,” Jeenah explained. “The Israelis took them directly from Gaza to a military airbase, then put them on a chartered flight to Nairobi and another one to Johannesburg. They have no exit stamps and now the Border Management Authority is using that as an excuse to deny them entry.”

Authorities argue that without exit stamps or return tickets, the refugees cannot legally enter the country. However, Jeenah emphasized that these are not tourists, but asylum seekers, and under international law, South Africa has an obligation to protect them.

“They are applying for asylum,” he stressed. “We have clear obligations under international and domestic law to process their claims and ensure their safety. Refusing them entry violates both humanitarian principles and our commitment to justice.”

The coalition, made up of multiple civil society and humanitarian organizations, has been working tirelessly to assist the refugees. Jeenah confirmed that the coalition is engaging with the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), State Security, Border Management, and the South African Police Service (SAPS) to negotiate access and support.

“We’ve been in communication with DIRCO since this morning,” he said. “We were ready to receive the refugees, to provide accommodation, food, and medical assistance, as we did with the previous group who arrived last week. But now, with this group trapped airside, we can’t even reach them to deliver basic supplies.”

Reports from the scene describe dire conditions onboard the aircraft. “There are babies sitting in soiled nappies for more than 24 hours, people who are hungry and malnourished, and no access to medical attention,” Jeenah said. “This is becoming a humanitarian emergency.”

Civil society has also raised concerns about the South African government’s apparent inconsistency publicly championing Palestinian rights at international platforms like the International Court of Justice (ICJ), yet failing to act humanely when faced with real refugees seeking safety.

“It’s one thing to take a case to The Hague,” Jeenah remarked. “But when genuine refugees from Gaza arrive at our doorstep, desperate and traumatized, we turn them away? Frankly, we should be ashamed.”

Authorities reportedly have until 11 p.m. to decide whether the aircraft will be sent back to Nairobi. Jeenah warned that deporting the refugees would be “an act of cruelty and humiliation” that would not only endanger the lives of those onboard but also “undermine South Africa’s global standing as a champion of human rights.”

“If this plane takes off tonight and returns to Nairobi, these people will be stranded in no man’s land,” he cautioned. “Kenya has been collaborating with Israel on this matter and will likely refuse them entry. They won’t be able to go back to Gaza. We will bear responsibility for what happens next.”

Jeenah called on all South Africans to act urgently:

“Contact the Department of Home Affairs, DIRCO, and your local representatives. Tell them to let these Palestinians in. These are our guests. We can’t fail them now.”

Listen to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and Naeem Jeenah.