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The nation's leader Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that an inquiry will be conducted into the unexplained appearance of a chartered plane carrying 153 Palestinians from the Gaza Strip into the territory.

Initial Access Denial

The group touched down at OR Tambo International Airport but were originally blocked from entering and were stuck in the plane for in excess of 10 hours as they "lacked the usual exit markings in their passports", local authorities reported.

A large portion were finally granted entry after intervention from a domestic humanitarian organization and because of the government's "empathy [and] humanity", Ramaphosa said.

The circumstances of their leaving from Gaza and travel to South Africa remain unclear.

International Context

The country has upheld firm backing for the Palestinian struggle amid the hostilities between the Hamas organization and the Israeli government in the Gaza Strip.

Ramaphosa said the passengers "in some way unexplainably were placed aboard a aircraft that traveled through Nairobi" and flew to South Africa.

"These individuals left the Palestinian enclave after obtaining approval from a foreign nation to receive them," declared an Israeli military body that manages Gaza's entry-exit locations.

Diplomatic Comment

Based on the official representation in the country, the travelers left an Israeli airport and journeyed to the country via the Kenyan capital, "lacking previous coordination or arrangement".

A announcement from the official office stated "an unregistered and false group [had] exploited the devastating living situation of our nationals in Gaza, misled individuals, collected money from them, and arranged their movement in an unorthodox and careless manner".

Current Circumstances

Among the 153 individuals, 23 managed to continue to alternative destinations, leaving 130 who were admitted into the territory, South African authorities say.

Ramaphosa, talking during an function in the city, mentioned he was made aware of the developing issue by the government representative.

In reaction, the president declared "we are unable to turn them back", per South African reporting.

"While they are without the appropriate documents and papers, these are persons from a war-ravaged, a violence-plagued land," he remarked.

Official Measures

The head of state also told reporters the country's leadership would perform a "thorough assessment" of the issue and update the public on "ongoing events and the manner in which this situation came to be where it is", according to public broadcaster.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber stated that while travelers from Palestine were eligible for 90-day visa-free access to the country, the non-existence of departure stamps, return tickets or housing locations in various of the travellers' records caused the initial denial to permit their entry to the nation.

When it was established that the absence of this data "did not indicate that the individuals wanted to seek protection" and their lodging was confirmed, they were permitted to enter.

"All of the individuals are in holding of valid travel documents and, currently, zero of them have applied for protection," he confirmed.

Support Assistance

Local humanitarian organization has stated it will offer the travelers with housing in the country.

Civil societies in the nation have called for examinations into the circumstances the Palestinian nationals had escaped in the Gaza Strip and the specific route of the aircraft.

An individual of the travelers who was interviewed by local media voiced his relief to be in the country, portraying it as a nation of "harmony, rules and equity".

"We came from Gaza where we've faced death on regularly. We have survived a hostilities of an extended period and we are fortunate to be in this place," stated one man who had fled with his wife and kids.

Complaints and Demands for Investigation

The humanitarian organization has subsequently requested Ramaphosa to investigate the interior department and immigration officials for the "embarrassment they've created" the Palestinian nationals.

The organization's founder said this treatment included being made to remain for hours on the tarmac at the facility, being refused nourishment offered by the organization and "utilizing all possible reasons in the manual to prevent these individuals from exiting the aircraft".

Long-standing Backing

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

The nation's support for the Palestinian struggle for an self-governing country dates back many years, notably the start of the last decade when anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela pledged assistance for the Palestinian struggle.

Substantial supporting Palestine protests have been conducted around the country since the war commenced.

Smaller supporting Israel demonstrations and rallies have been conducted in the state, which has the largest Jewish population in the continent.

In last year, the South African government filed a lawsuit against Israel with the world court, accusing it of mass killing in Gaza. Israel has strongly rejected the accusation, describing it "unsubstantiated".