The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) said it was deeply concerned about government’s hasty decision to permit more than 150 Palestinian nationals into the country, saying this incident highlighted “ongoing failures” in the State’s migration management.

Last week, more than 150 Palestinian nationals arrived at OR Tambo International Airport, on a flight from Nairobi, Kenya, reportedly without the knowledge of South African authorities.

Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber confirmed that none of the travellers from Palestine applied for asylum.

IFP Chief Whip Nhlanhla Hadebe said failure of this group to apply for asylum was “concerning” with proper immigration procedures having been bypassed.

“We believe they should not have been permitted entry without following established legal processes. Stronger measures are needed to regulate and monitor the arrival of foreign nationals in South Africa,” he said.

Hadebe said while the IFP sympathised with those fleeing conflict, proper documentation and adherence to immigration protocols needed to be followed.

“...it is troubling that this group did not apply for asylum upon arrival yet was still permitted to enter the country. This raises serious questions about immigration oversight and border management,” he stated.

He said government decisions must prioritise transparent processes, comprehensive security evaluations, and public consultation and that any commitments made were “realistic, responsibly managed, and aligned” with South Africa’s national interest.

The party maintained that “ineffective migration management” had created a situation of risk and instability.

“While fairness remains important, illegal migration places undue strain on national resources and compromises the security of the State,” Hadebe said.

He called on government to urgently review pre-1994 agreements relating to undocumented foreign nationals, stating that current legislation did not adequately equip the State to address these challenges.

Meanwhile, the GOOD Party said government should submit a supplementary affidavit to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is considering South Africa’s case of genocide against Israel.

South Africa is currently involved in a high-profile case at the ICJ where it has instituted proceedings against Israel, accusing it of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention.

GOOD secretary-general and Unite for Change leadership council member Brett Herron pointed out that although the more than 150 Palestinians were not forced aboard the aircraft, he claimed they were forcibly removed owing to the destruction of infrastructure in Gaza.

"Individual or mass forcible transfers, as well as deportations of protected persons from occupied territory... regardless of their motive, are explicitly prohibited by the Geneva Convention. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court classifies the ‘deportation or forcible transfer of population’ as a war crime, and ‘if committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian population’ also a crime against humanity,” he said.