Controversy Surrounding Flights Evacuating Palestinians from Gaza: The Role of Ad Kan and Al-Majd
A surprising development occurred when a plane carrying around 150 Palestinians from Gaza landed in South Africa in November. This was not an isolated incident, as similar flights have transported Gaza residents to Indonesia and South Africa since May. An Israeli group, Ad Kan, which supported U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, was found to be behind these flights. The motives behind evacuating hundreds of people from Gaza have raised questions, with South Africa's Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola calling the flights an attempt to cleanse Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank.
Ad Kan, an Israeli organization founded by soldiers and former intelligence officers, worked through another company, Al-Majd, to organize the flights and distance links to Israel. The passengers, who fled the devastating war in Gaza, were unaware of the group behind the trips but were desperate to leave the war-torn enclave. Ad Kan's founder, Gilad Ach, has been a vocal supporter of Trump's proposal to transfer Palestinians out of Gaza, advocating for their voluntary exit and coordination with receiving countries.
The evacuations were carried out through Al-Majd, a company presenting itself as a humanitarian organization supporting Palestinian lives. Ad Kan's history and Ach's activism suggest a different agenda, focusing on the emigration of Palestinians from Gaza. Despite the international condemnation of such proposals, far-right Israeli groups continue to support the idea of removing Gaza's Palestinians. Israel's government has approached several countries to facilitate emigration from Gaza, emphasizing the voluntary nature of the departures.
The flights organized by Ad Kan and Al-Majd allowed Palestinians to leave Gaza, with some paying part of the costs for the humanitarian flights. The passengers, facing dire conditions in Gaza after the war, sought refuge in other countries. The flights, initially planned to go to Indonesia, were redirected to South Africa, leading to the revocation of visa exemptions for Palestinian passport holders by the South African government. The involvement of Israelis in the flights was not widely known among the passengers, who were primarily focused on escaping the turmoil in Gaza.
In conclusion, the evacuation of Palestinians from Gaza to Indonesia and South Africa through flights organized by Ad Kan and Al-Majd has sparked controversy and raised concerns about the motives behind these humanitarian efforts. The involvement of Israeli groups and individuals advocating for the emigration of Palestinians from Gaza has drawn international attention and criticism. Despite the challenges faced by Palestinians in Gaza, the voluntary nature of these departures and the potential for return remain uncertain.