South Africa has said it does not want to receive more flights carrying Palestinians because they are part of a “broader agenda” to clear out Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
The remarks by Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola on Monday followed the unexpected arrival in Johannesburg last week of 153 Gazans who did not have departure stamps from Israel in their passports. Israel controls Gaza's borders and said the group was allowed to travel after receiving entry approval from South Africa.
“We are suspicious … about the circumstances surrounding the arrival of the plane and the passengers that were in the plane,” Mr Lamola said. “It does look like it represents a broader agenda to remove Palestinians from Palestine into many different parts of the world.
“It's a clearly orchestrated operation because they are not only being sent to South Af
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