South Africa withdraws 90-day visa exemption for Palestinians over fears of link to forced migration

Changes to Visa Policy for Palestinians by South Africa

On Tue, Nov 18, 2025, South African authorities announced the withdrawal of a 90-day visa exemption for Palestinians. This decision follows the recent arrival of a charter flight carrying 153 individuals, which was described as part of a "forced migration" initiative.

Dr. Leon Schreiber, Minister of Home Affairs, stated that the flight, along with another scheduled for October, was organized by Israeli actors. These actions are reportedly linked to efforts to relocate residents from the Gaza Strip.

Minister Schreiber expressed concerns about the misuse of the visa system and the welfare of the passengers, who might be left without resources upon their arrival in South Africa.

The nature of these charter flights has led to concerns among rights groups regarding potential attempts by the Israeli government to displace Palestinians from Gaza. The Israeli authority responsible for executing civilian policies in the Palestinian territories indicated that the Palestinians on these flights departed the Gaza Strip following approval from a third country to accept them.

Israel has expressed approval of a proposal by the US to permanently relocate over 2 million Palestinians from Gaza, a plan that rights groups have criticized as tantamount to ethnic cleansing.

Based on reporting by Africanews.