'The Exploitation of Palestinians for Political Gain is a Calculated Abuse of Humanity'

Dr. Reneva Fourie

The exploitation of vulnerable people for political gain is a calculated and appalling abuse of humanity that strips those already suffering from the destruction of dignity and protection. On 13 November, more than 150 Palestinians, already traumatised by war and displacement, were left trapped on an aircraft for about twelve hours in Johannesburg.

Coming from an environment of continued Israeli military operations in Gaza, despite the ceasefire, the group had already endured extensive loss. What should have been a moment of safety after a long and punishing escape instead became a fresh experience of fear, confusion, and exhaustion.

Their hope of relief was replaced by a sense of abandonment that mirrored the wider indifference shown toward people who have already lost family, homes, and the sense of continuity that once shaped their lives. 

Much remains uncertain, yet it appears that the group travelled from Gaza through an extraordinarily complex route arranged by an organisation known as Al Majd Europe. Their journey began with bus transport from Rafah to the Kerem Shalom crossing before they were moved to Ramon Airport.

From there, they travelled to Kenya and finally to Johannesburg. Al Majd Europe describes itself as a humanitarian organisation, yet its operation of this route suggests the use of unofficial channels that seem to have been enabled by the Israeli military. 

On arrival in Johannesburg, instead of entering a system prepared to support those who had fled a harrowing situation, the passengers faced prolonged confinement on the aircraft. They were kept in cramped conditions with limited food, water, and inadequate sanitation. For individuals who had only just escaped repeated bombardment and deprivation, the experience reawakened the fear they carried and further weakened their sense of safety.

The ordeal was intensified by administrative confusion and the absence of a clear procedure by the officials responsible for their processing. It took the direct intervention of President Cyril Ramaphosa for the passengers to be released. 

The nature of these arrangements raises questions about intentionality and about whether the people involved were used as instruments within a wider political strategy. Such doubts are intensified by the broader pattern in which Palestinians frequently find their movement controlled, restricted, or manipulated by external powers whose interests lie in geopolitical advantage rather than human dignity.

 The situation appears to have been deliberately choreographed to embarrass South Africa as it hosts the G20. The unannounced arrival of the Palestinians left South Africa in a position where any decision could be interpreted as a violation of international obligations or as capitulation to foreign pressure.

Such dilemmas reflect the broader imbalance of power that shapes global politics, where states aligned with dominant Western interests hold the ability to create crises that place others on the back foot.

The Fourth Geneva Convention prohibits both individual and mass forcible transfers of protected persons from occupied territory. Israel and the State of Palestine are parties to this Convention. The prohibition applies regardless of motive. Forced displacement is defined as a grave breach and is recognised as a war crime.

The pattern of movement imposed upon Palestinians, whether through bombardment, administrative barriers, or engineered desperation, must be understood within these legal parameters. The complex route taken by this group and the apparent facilitation of their travel by unofficial channels demand scrutiny within the context of long-standing practices that have shaped the reality of occupation.

Once the passengers arrived in South Africa, their status fell under refugee law. South Africa is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and the 1967 Protocol. These treaties require that no refugee may be expelled or returned to any territory where their life or freedom may be threatened because of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.

This obligation is unequivocal. It prioritises human protection above political tension or diplomatic calculation. Palestinians are permitted to enter South Africa without a visa for ninety days, and their arrival should have been handled accordingly. This entry should have been facilitated by the Department of Home Affairs.

This brings into question the conduct and neutrality of the Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber. His party has consistently defended the Israeli government and has rejected descriptions of the violence in Gaza as genocidal. This history invites scrutiny regarding the decisions taken during the incident. It becomes more troubling when considered alongside ongoing attempts by foreign governments and domestic allies to undermine South Africa’s legal pursuits at the International Court of Justice. 

These attempts include the United States’ announcement that it will not attend the G20, as it continues to provide political cover, military funding, and diplomatic protection to Israel, reinforcing an imperial structure in which Palestinian suffering is disregarded in favour of strategic alliances.

It also coincides with Israeli President Herzog’s state visits to Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, signifying regional interventions by Israel to weaken longstanding support for Palestine within the Southern African region.

Interestingly, the South African Zionist Federation, alongside Schreiber’s laxity, suddenly expressed concern for the Palestinians, becoming unusually vocal in blaming the South African government in general. Its position aligns with a broader campaign that seeks to discredit South Africa and protect the interests of Israel and its Western backers.

This campaign attempts to reframe the suffering of Palestinians as a tool for political manipulation, while ignoring the fact that the passengers themselves were the ones placed in an unfair, manufactured crisis.

The exploitation of vulnerable people for strategic gain violates any standard of moral decency. The people of Gaza endure incessant aggression from apartheid Israel that persists even in moments labelled as ceasefires. Their grief and exhaustion must not be used to advance geopolitical interests or to punish states that attempt to uphold international law.

The international community carries a responsibility to act with compassion and integrity. The events surrounding the stranded passengers in Johannesburg are a stark reminder of this responsibility and the importance of countering the callousness of imperial powers that rely on coercion, misinformation, and human suffering to advance their aims.

* Dr Reneva Fourie is a policy analyst specialising in governance, development, and security.

** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.