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South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that a probe will be launched into the unexplained arrival of a private aircraft bringing 153 individuals from Palestine from the Gaza Strip into the country.

Initial Admission Refusal

The group arrived at OR Tambo International Airport but were originally refused entry and remained in the aircraft for in excess of 10 hours as they "did not have the usual exit markings in their travel documents", airport representatives reported.

Most were ultimately granted entry after assistance from a local charity and because of the government's "compassion [and] sympathy", Ramaphosa said.

The details of their departure from Gaza and travel to the nation remain unclear.

International Setting

The country has upheld strong support for the Palestinian cause throughout the conflict between Hamas and the Israeli government in Gaza.

Ramaphosa said the group "somehow unexplainably were placed aboard a plane that passed by Nairobi" and flew to South Africa.

"The residents departed from the Palestinian enclave after securing authorization from a foreign nation to accept them," announced an Israeli military body that oversees Gaza's crossings.

Diplomatic Declaration

Per the official representation in South Africa, the travelers departed from an Israeli airport and journeyed to the nation via the Kenya's main city, "absent prior note or coordination".

A statement from the official office stated "an unauthorized and misleading organization [had] taken advantage of the tragic circumstances of our nationals in the Gaza Strip, deceived families, took payments from them, and arranged their movement in an irregular and irresponsible way".

Present Situation

Among the 153 travelers, 23 were able to continue to alternative places, with 130 who were admitted into the country, government officials confirm.

Ramaphosa, talking during an event in the urban center, said he was informed of the ongoing crisis by the interior official.

In reply, the leader said "we cannot send them away", per local media.

"While they lack the required identification and documents, these are persons from a conflict-ridden, a war-torn nation," he continued.

Government Measures

The head of state also informed journalists the national administration would perform a "proper review" of the situation and notify the citizens on "what is happening and the manner in which this case came to be where it is", as stated by government television.

Government Representative Leon Schreiber commented that while Palestinian passport-holders were eligible for 90-day visa-free access to the nation, the non-existence of exit markings, return tickets or residence details in some of the individuals' documentation caused the first rejection to allow them into the nation.

When it was determined that the absence of this details "did not suggest that the travellers intended to request refugee status" and their housing was verified, they were allowed in.

"Every one of the individuals are in ownership of current travel documents and, at present, none of them have requested protection," he said.

Support Response

Domestic aid group has stated it will offer the group with housing in the territory.

Civil societies in the country have requested investigations into the situation the Palestinians had escaped in Gaza and the exact journey of the aircraft.

An individual of the Palestinian nationals who spoke to domestic television voiced his thankfulness to be in the nation, characterizing it as a country of "peace, laws and equity".

"We arrived from the Gaza Strip where we've experienced mortality on daily basis. We have survived a conflict of an extended period and we are blessed to be here," stated a male passenger who had escaped with his partner and offspring.

Complaints and Demands for Investigation

The charity group has subsequently requested Ramaphosa to investigate the government agency and immigration officials for the "disrespect they've caused" the Palestinians.

The group's leader claimed this conduct included being made to remain for hours on the runway at the terminal, being prevented from receiving food supplied by the charity and "using all possible reasons in the book to block these travelers from disembarking".

Historical Advocacy

The nation has been strongly opposed of the nation's military operation in Gaza.

The nation's support for the Palestinian struggle for an self-governing country dates back decades, particularly the beginning of the 1990s when historical figure Nelson Mandela pledged assistance for the Palestinian cause.

Substantial pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been organized across the nation since the conflict commenced.

Smaller pro-Israel demonstrations and events have been conducted in the country, which has the most significant Jewish residents in the continent.

In the previous year, the country's leadership lodged a case against the nation with the world court, accusing it of systematic destruction in Gaza. Israel has strongly rejected the South African claim, labeling it "unsubstantiated".