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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared that a probe will be conducted into the puzzling landing of a private aircraft bringing 153 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip into the territory.

First Access Rejection

The passengers landed at OR Tambo International Airport but were at first refused entry and were forced to stay in the aircraft for more than 10 hours as they "did not have the usual passport endorsements in their travel documents", airport representatives reported.

Most were ultimately allowed in after support from a local charity and because of the administration's "empathy [and] compassion", Ramaphosa said.

The particulars of their exit from the Gaza Strip and journey to the nation are still unknown.

International Context

The country has maintained consistent advocacy for the Palestinian cause during the war between the Hamas organization and the Israeli government in Gaza.

Ramaphosa commented the group "in some way unexplainably were boarded a aircraft that stopped in Nairobi" and flew to South Africa.

"These individuals left the Palestinian enclave after securing authorization from a third country to receive them," stated an government agency that manages Gaza's crossings.

Diplomatic Comment

Per the diplomatic mission in the country, the passengers left a facility in Israel and traveled to the nation via the Kenya's main city, "absent prior note or arrangement".

A statement from the embassy stated "a non-official and deceptive entity [had] used the difficult circumstances of our nationals in Gaza, tricked families, received funds from them, and arranged their travel in an improper and careless way".

Latest Status

From the 153 travelers, 23 succeeded to travel to alternative destinations, resulting in 130 who were granted entry into the territory, government officials confirm.

Ramaphosa, addressing during an event in the city, said he was informed of the ongoing issue by the home affairs minister.

In response, the president stated "we cannot turn them back", per domestic news.

"Even though they do not have the necessary identification and records, these are people from a war-ravaged, a violence-plagued nation," he added.

Official Measures

The head of state also informed journalists the national administration would carry out a "thorough review" of the situation and update the citizens on "current developments and the manner in which this situation occurred where it is", per national media.

Interior Official Leon Schreiber said that while Palestinian passport-holders qualified for 90-day no-visa admission to the country, the absence of passport endorsements, homeward journeys or housing locations in some of the individuals' documentation resulted in the original refusal to allow them into the country.

Once it was determined that the absence of this information "did not suggest that the travellers wished to request protection" and their lodging was verified, they were allowed in.

"All of the individuals are in ownership of legitimate travel documents and, at present, none of them have applied for protection," he stated.

Aid Assistance

South African charity has stated it will supply the travelers with housing in the territory.

Community groups in South Africa have called for examinations into the circumstances the Palestinians had left in the Gaza Strip and the exact path of the plane.

A single of the Palestinian nationals who was interviewed by South African news expressed his gratitude to be in the country, describing it as a land of "tranquility, laws and fairness".

"We came from Gaza where we've experienced danger on every day. We have survived a war of 24 months and we are fortunate to be here," said an individual who had escaped with his partner and two children.

Complaints and Demands for Action

The charity group has since demanded Ramaphosa to examine the home affairs ministry and border authority for the "disrespect they've inflicted" the travelers.

The foundation's founder said this handling involved being required to stay for a long time on the runway at the terminal, being denied food supplied by the group and "utilizing every excuse in the book to block these passengers from disembarking".

Traditional Backing

The nation has been sharply disapproving of the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip.

The country's support for the Palestinian cause for an self-governing country goes back decades, particularly the start of the last decade when historical figure Nelson Mandela committed backing for the Palestinian struggle.

Large in favor of Palestinian rights protests have been held throughout the country since the conflict commenced.

More limited in favor of Israeli policies demonstrations and rallies have been held in the state, which hosts the largest Jewish residents in the region.

In the previous year, the South African government submitted a legal action against the nation with the global judicial body, alleging it of genocide in Gaza. The nation has categorically refused the South African claim, labeling it "baseless".