Mysterious Evacuations: Flights from Gaza to South Africa and Indonesia

Since May 2023, at least three flights have transported residents from Gaza to Indonesia and South Africa amid ongoing conflict in the region. These evacuations were organized by a company named Al-Majd, which claims to support Palestinian lives and provide humanitarian aid. However, the operations have raised questions regarding their true nature and the motivations behind them.

Al-Majd describes itself as a humanitarian organization, but its operations have been scrutinized due to its connections with the Israeli group Ad Kan. Founded by Gilad Ach, Ad Kan has a history of infiltrating organizations it perceives as antisemitic or anti-Israel. Ach has publicly advocated for the emigration of Palestinians from Gaza, suggesting that the Israeli government should facilitate this process in coordination with the United States. The Israeli government has reportedly approached countries such as Somaliland, South Sudan, and Sudan to discuss the potential for accepting Palestinian emigrants.

Times of Israel

Many evacuees expressed desperation, stating they were unaware of the organization behind their flights. A 37-year-old Palestinian who arrived in South Africa described the dire conditions in Gaza, saying, “There was famine, and we had no options. My children were almost killed.” Passengers were informed they would be taken to South Africa, Indonesia, or Malaysia but were not given a choice of destination.

American-Israeli businessman Moti Kahana was contracted to organize the flights for Ad Kan, with a minimum payment of $750,000. Kahana noted that Ach wanted to distance the flights from Israeli involvement, presenting Al-Majd as an Arab-led initiative. He stated, “It’s the same people, the same company, different names,” indicating a deliberate effort to obscure the Israeli connection.

The Palestinian Embassy in South Africa criticized the flights, labeling Al-Majd as an “unregistered and misleading organization” that exploited the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Rights groups have raised concerns that the emigration is not truly voluntary, given the uninhabitable conditions in Gaza following the conflict. Critics argue that the ongoing presence of Palestinians in Gaza serves as a political tool against Israel and that their right to return must be safeguarded.

Gilad Ach has defended the flights as humanitarian efforts, asserting that they were initiated by individuals seeking help. He emphasized the hypocrisy of countries refusing to accept Palestinian refugees while criticizing Israel. However, he did not respond to inquiries regarding the operational ties between Al-Majd and Ad Kan.

• “There was famine, and we had no options. My children were almost killed,” — Anonymous Palestinian Evacuee

Times of Israel

• “It’s the same people, the same company, different names,” — Moti Kahana, Businessman

• “Their continued presence in Gaza, under dire conditions, serves as a tool to pressure Israel internationally and allows Hamas to maintain its rule over this suffering population,” — Gilad Ach, Founder of Ad Kan

The evacuations from Gaza to South Africa and Indonesia highlight complex humanitarian and political dynamics. While many evacuees sought safety, the underlying motivations and organizational connections raise significant ethical questions about the nature of these flights and the treatment of Palestinians in the ongoing conflict.