South Africa cancels Palestinian visa waiver, citing Israeli ‘emigration’ efforts

South Africa has cancelled visa exemptions for Palestinian passport holders, citing abuse of the program. The decision came after an investigation into charter flights that brought Palestinians from Gaza to South Africa without proper documentation. The Department of Home Affairs stated that Israeli actors were deliberately using the visa waiver to facilitate the 'voluntary emigration' and relocation of residents from the Gaza Strip. This action was prompted by a specific incident involving a mysterious flight with 153 Palestinians arriving in Johannesburg.