DayofPal— A cross-border investigation has uncovered a covert network funneling Palestinians from Gaza to various countries through irregular travel routes, questionable intermediaries, and unlicensed organizations operating under the guise of humanitarian assistance.
At the center of the controversy is an obscure group known as “Al-Majd,” which an investigation by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz links to an Israeli-Estonian Tomer Janar Lind.
Despite presenting itself as a humanitarian initiative, the organization is not legally registered in Germany or Jerusalem, and its website, created only in February, contains broken links and nonfunctional social media pages.
According to the findings, several aviation companies have been drawn into the operation through layers of intermediaries: The Romanian carrier Fly You reportedly transported passengers via an unidentified Israeli travel agent.
Another airline, Global Airways, flew groups from Kenya to Johannesburg after receiving assurances from a broker affiliated with Kibris Turkish Airlines that passengers would not require visas for stays under 90 days.
South Africa became a focal point of the crisis when 153 Gazans were detained for 12 hours at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport due to missing documentation, lack of return tickets, and passports without exit stamps from Israeli-controlled crossings.
Travelers reported harsh conditions, including long waits without food or water.
Sources indicate that the “voluntary migration office” within Israel’s Ministry of Defense directed Haaretz inquiries to COGAT, the authority overseeing Israeli operations in the Palestinian territories.
The report notes that in March, Israel’s security cabinet approved measures to relax certain restrictions in the context of what was described as “Trump’s plan for relocating Gaza’s population.”
When approached, Al-Majd director Tomer Janar Lind declined to answer detailed questions, saying only: “I don’t want to comment at this stage — maybe later.”
Families reportedly pay between $1,500 and $2,700 per person, with communication conducted via an Israeli WhatsApp number. Groups gather covertly inside Gaza before being transferred through the Kerem Abu Salem crossing to Ramon Airport near Eilat.
Popular destinations in the network include Kenya, Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Africa, countries that do not require visas for short-term stays by Palestinian travelers.
The Palestinian Embassy in South Africa condemned the operation, describing Al-Majd as “a misleading and irresponsible entity that exploited the suffering of Gaza’s civilians to collect money illegally.”
South African authorities have yet to publicly clarify the future status of the detained passengers, while Israel’s Defense Ministry reportedly refused to comment on the broader affair.
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