GAZA STRIP: Palestinians, especially those in the Gaza Strip, must be wary of networks that se­­­­ek to remove them from their homes in line with Israeli interests, the Palestinian Authority’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned.

The warning came a day after 153 Palestinians, who left Gaza without knowing their final destination and without proper paperwork, arrived in South Africa on board a flight from Kenya on Fri­day and were held up for 12 hours as authorities investigated the issue.

South Africa gave the war-ravaged Palestinians 90-day visas, Al Jazeera reported.

The Palestinian ministry on Saturday expressed “deep appreciation” for the support from the South African authorities and people.

The Palestinian embassy in Pretoria said it is working to assist the travellers who have “endured over two years of Israeli genocidal war, killing, displacement, and destruction”.

Gaza health ministry receives 15 more bodies

But it warned that companies, unofficial entities and unregistered intermediaries inside Isra­eli-occupied Palestinian territory are trying to mislead Palestinians and incite them towards leaving.

“The ministry calls upon our people, especially our people in the Gaza Strip, to exercise caution and not fall prey to human trafficking, to merchants and companies of blood, and to agents of displacement,” it said.

Meanwhile, Israeli authorities said on Saturday that 153 Pales­tinians who turned up unexpectedly in South Africa, triggering questions from its president, had received entry approval from an unnamed third country.

Shimi Zuaretz, a spokesman for COGAT, the Israeli body that runs civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, told AFP they had only been allowed to leave Gaza “after COGAT received approval from a third country to receive them”.

He did not name the country.

An Israeli official who did not wish to be identified said that the organisation which coordinated the transfer had submitted third-country visas to COGAT for all the evacuated residents.

South Africa’s home affairs ministry said 130 of the group entered the country, while the remaining 23 took onward flights to other destinations.

15 bodies received

Also, the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza confirmed on Saturday it had received the bodies of 15 Palestinians. “The Ministry of Health announces the receipt of 15 bodies of martyrs who were released yesterday, Friday, by the Israeli occupation through the Red Cross. This brings the total number of bodies received to 330” as part of the deal, the ministry said, adding it had so far identified 97.

They were returned in exchange for the remains of 73-year-old Israeli prisoner Meny Godard, which Hamas returned via the Red Cross.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2025