130 Palestinian Refugees Granted Entry After 13-Hour Ordeal at OR Tambo

Posted on November 14, 2025
by Yashmika Dukaran


After spending 13 hours stranded on a plane at OR Tambo International Airport, 130 Palestinian refugees have finally been allowed to enter South Africa.

The group is temporarily being accommodated in a Johannesburg hotel. Authorities initially denied entry due to missing exit stamps on their passports.

Humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers played a key role in facilitating their entry, ensuring the refugees could disembark safely and receive support upon arrival.