Palestinian refugees could be victims of human trafficking

HUMAN trafficking could be among the reasons behind the arrival of Palestinian families in South Africa as the organisation that handled the departure is unregistered and facilitated the travel irregularly and irresponsibly. 

The group of 153 Palestinian refugees arrived in South Africa on a chartered flight from Kenya to seek asylum in the country, although they were initially denied entry due to a lack of proper documentation. 

They waited for nearly 12 hours at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg to be cleared or turned away. 

They were granted entry into the country under a standard 90-day visa exemption and were admitted on humanitarian grounds. 

The Embassy of Palestine in South Africa said the organisation, Al-Majd Europe, that facilitated the departure is an unregistered organisation that deceived the families. 

“The unregistered and misleading organisation deceived families, collected money from them, and facilitated their travel in an irregular and irresponsible manner. This entity later attempted to disown any responsibility once complications arose,” the embassy said, adding that the organisation exploited the tragic humanitarian conditions of “our people” in Gaza.

Senior Researcher at the Mapungubwe Institute, Naeem Jennah, said although their legal representatives were trying to make a determination, they of the view that this could amount to human trafficking. 

“Our lawyers are looking at it right now to see whether it fulfills the definition of human trafficking. But it seems it was. Imagine a scenario where  people in a desperate situation have to pay money and cross the border not knowing where they are going,” he said.

They were told that they were heading to Indonesia and Malaysia, but ended up in South Africa. He said by not providing traveling documentation, there is also no proof that the families left Gaza. 

Al-Majd Europe describes itself as a humanitarian organisation founded in Germany and based in East Jerusalem. However, investigations have found that it is actually registered in Estonia and operates through a front consulting company.

The organisation reportedly offered "evacuation" for a fee (ranging from approximately $1,400 to $2,000 per person) to various destinations, including South Africa, without the passengers knowing their final destination.

The refugees were reportedly moved from Rafah to the Israeli-controlled Karem Abu Salem crossing and then to Israel’s Ramon Airport, with the Israeli military appearing to facilitate the transfer. 

Jennah said this was suspicious. 

Sarah Oosthuizen, a volunteer at Gift of the Givers, said this is suspicious and sound like human trafficking, adding that the investigations will reveal everything. 

“To me, the argument might be that they paid for something but they did not get what they have paid for. They were not taken where they thought they were going. I am not sure how you define human trafficking but this sounds suspicious,” she said, adding that this should be thoroughly investigated. 

Professor Andre Thomashausen, Professor Emeritus of International Law at Unisa, said to facilitate unauthorised border crossings constitutes human trafficking, which is forbidden under national and international laws. 

Thomashausen said this is why airlines are obliged to take back a passenger who arrives at a destination without a valid entry permit, a visa. 

Cape Times