<article data-history-node-id="431508" about="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/transit-153-palestinians-south-africa-coordinated-israel" class="live-blog-update default clearfix"> <h2> <a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/transit-153-palestinians-south-africa-coordinated-israel" rel="bookmark"> <span class="field field-title">Transit of 153 Palestinians to South Africa coordinated with Israel</span> </a> </h2> <div class="content"> <div class="field field-field-text"><p>A chartered flight carrying over 150 Palestinians from Gaza to South Africa was facilitated by a controversial agency in close collaboration with the Israeli military, Al Jazeera is reporting. The evacuees arrived in Johannesberg on Thursday without proper documentation or coordination.</p> <p>An Israeli military official told AP that an organisation called Al-Majd arranged for their transit. According to Al Jazeera, the organisation posted an advert promising safe passage to Palestinians out of Gaza.</p> <p>The evacuees reportedly crossed the "yellow line" ringing Gaza with the cooperation of the Israeli authorities. A &nbsp;bus then transferred them&nbsp;to the Kerem Shalom crossing, and then to Ramon airport in southern Israel.</p> <p>Despite initially denying them entry,&nbsp;South Africa granted a 90-day via exemption for the evacuees.</p> <p>The Palestinian Foreign Ministry commended the decision, but warned that companies inciting Palestinians to relocate "will bear the&nbsp;legal consequences of their unlawful practices and will be subject to prosecution and accountability.”</p> <p>It further stressed that&nbsp;human trafficking constitutes “a crime under international and national law that will not be tolerated.”</p> </div> </div> </article>