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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that an inquiry will be conducted into the unexplained landing of a leased jet transporting 153 individuals from Palestine from Gaza into the nation.

Initial Access Denial

The passengers touched down at OR Tambo International Airport but were at first refused entry and remained in the aircraft for in excess of 10 hours as they "did not have the standard exit markings in their passports", local authorities stated.

Most were eventually granted entry after support from a local charity and because of the administration's "understanding [and] sympathy", Ramaphosa remarked.

The circumstances of their exit from the Gaza Strip and journey to South Africa are still unknown.

Political Background

The country has continued strong support for the Palestinian struggle amid the war between Hamas and the Israeli government in Gaza.

Ramaphosa commented the group "in some way unexplainably were put on a plane that stopped in Nairobi" and traveled to South Africa.

"These individuals departed from the Gaza territory after securing approval from a another state to receive them," announced an government agency that manages Gaza's entry-exit locations.

Official Declaration

Per the Palestinian embassy in South Africa, the travelers left Israel's Ramon Airport and traveled to the nation via the Nairobi, "absent prior note or arrangement".

A declaration from the official office said "a non-official and misleading organization [had] used the tragic living situation of our people in Gaza, tricked households, collected money from them, and facilitated their movement in an improper and reckless manner".

Present Situation

From the 153 travelers, 23 managed to continue to different places, with 130 who were granted entry into the nation, government officials report.

Ramaphosa, talking during an gathering in the city, stated he was notified of the developing situation by the government representative.

In reaction, the president stated "we are unable to send them away", according to local media.

"While they are without the appropriate papers and papers, these are persons from a strife-torn, a violence-plagued nation," he continued.

Official Measures

The president also informed reporters the country's leadership would conduct a "thorough evaluation" of the situation and notify the public on "what is happening and the manner in which this situation occurred in its current state", as stated by government television.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber commented that while travelers from Palestine were eligible for 90-day visa-exempt access to the country, the lack of passport endorsements, round-trip fares or accommodation addresses in some of the passengers' documentation caused the initial denial to let them into the nation.

Once it was determined that the non-presence of this details "was not evidence that the individuals wished to request asylum" and their accommodation was confirmed, they were granted entry.

"Every one of the travellers are in holding of valid identification papers and, at present, not one of them have applied for asylum," he said.

Support Response

Local humanitarian organization has said it will provide the travelers with housing in the country.

Community groups in the nation have called for investigations into the circumstances the Palestinian nationals had escaped in the Gaza Strip and the precise route of the plane.

One of the Palestinians who communicated with South African news expressed his relief to be in South Africa, portraying it as a country of "peace, regulations and equity".

"We arrived from Gaza where we've encountered mortality on daily basis. We have endured a war of an extended period and we are blessed to be in this place," said a male passenger who had departed with his wife and two children.

Concerns and Demands for Accountability

The charity group has since demanded Ramaphosa to examine the home affairs ministry and customs service for the "humiliation they've inflicted" the travelers.

The group's director stated this treatment involved being required to remain for a long time on the tarmac at the airport, being prevented from receiving nourishment offered by the charity and "utilizing various justifications in the book to prevent these passengers from exiting the aircraft".

Historical Backing

The country has been highly critical of the Israeli armed campaign in the Gaza Strip.

The nation's support for the Palestinian struggle for an independent state extends a long time, particularly the beginning of the 1990s when anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela vowed support for the Palestinian struggle.

Significant in favor of Palestinian rights protests have been conducted across the country since the hostilities began.

More limited in favor of Israeli policies demonstrations and gatherings have been held in the country, which hosts the largest Jewish population in the continent.

In last year, the South African government submitted a legal action against the nation with the world court, accusing it of genocide in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli government has firmly denied the accusation, calling it "unsubstantiated".