Forced or facilitated? A gaze behind South Africa’s Palestinian arrivals: Thando Nzimande

Key topics:Controversy surrounds Imtiaz Sooliman’s role in Palestinian arrivals to South AfricaDebate over whether removals were forced or voluntary humanitarian evacuationsGeopolitics, ideology, and NGO networks complicate South Africa’s response.Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here.Support South Africa’s bastion of independent journalism, offering balanced insights on investments, business, and the political economy, by joining BizNews Premium. Register here.If you prefer WhatsApp for updates, sign up to the BizNews channel here..By Thando Nzimande*.Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of Gift of the Givers, has long been one of South Africa’s most prominent humanitarians, yet he is also one of its most contested figures. Over the years, he has attracted both praise for his organisation’s extensive relief work and scrutiny for his political and ideological positions. Much of this controversy resurfaces now in light of the recent arrival of more than 150 Palestinians in South Africa under highly unusual circumstances. The public conversation surrounding these events has turned toward Sooliman once again, raising questions about ideological motives, narratives of forced removal, and the shadowy organisations involved in transporting people out of Gaza.It is widely stated in many public videos and commentary that Sooliman supports Hamas, an allegation he denies but one that persists partly because of his openly expressed views. He has previously made statements about following Quranic law above government or international law, remarks that to many create unease in a constitutional democracy. According to reporting in the Times of Israel, he claimed that Islamic law overrides “human law,” and that this divine instruction guides his actions. These comments have contributed to perceptions that his humanitarian work is embedded not only in religious ethics but in an ideological framework that may shape his political positions, especially concerning Israel and Palestine. Critics, including analysts and community organisations, have argued that Gift of the Givers may operate at times in proximity to Islamist networks, while supporters insist such claims are attempts to defame a respected humanitarian..The arrival of Palestinians in South Africa adds new layers to this debate. The chartered aircraft that touched down at OR Tambo International Airport in November 2025 brought 153 Palestinians, many without standard travel documentation, resulting in a standoff that lasted over twelve hours. Ultimately, after negotiations and a commitment from Gift of the Givers to provide accommodation and financial support, 130 of the passengers were allowed entry under a 90-day visa exemption. Sooliman framed his involvement as purely humanitarian, arguing that the passengers had endured hardship, lacked proper documentation due to Israeli policies, and were in immediate need of assistance. He also claimed that this had been a case of “forced removals,” portraying the group as victims of a broader displacement strategy.What complicates this narrative is that earlier flights reportedly arrived quietly, without public controversy or claims of forced displacement. Only after this particular arrival became public and after government institutions began questioning the circumstances, did rhetoric around “forced removals” intensify. This shift raises questions: why was the language not used before? And why did claims of coercion emerge only after media exposure and political scrutiny? Critics argue that Sooliman, consistent with his longstanding pro-Palestinian stance, may be amplifying a narrative of systemic injustice in order to reinforce South Africa’s framing of the Palestinian cause, particularly as the government positions itself internationally as a defender of Palestinian rights.Further complicating the story is the role of Al-Majd Europe, the little-known organisation that coordinated the flight. According to various reports, this group advertised its services to Palestinians on social media, offering evacuations from Gaza and charging substantial fees. The Palestinian Embassy in Pretoria issued a warning, stating that Al-Majd had deceived families and collected money irregularly. The Palestinian Authority similarly cautioned citizens against such networks, describing them as “agents of displacement” potentially furthering agendas aligned with outside political interests. These statements cast doubt on whether the removals were forced or whether vulnerable people in a war zone were taken advantage of by intermediaries. The evidence suggests that many of the passengers voluntarily approached these organisations, paid from their own pockets, and knowingly agreed to leave Gaza, though perhaps without full clarity on where they were going. In fact, reports indicate that some only learned they were headed to South Africa once they were already in transit. This does not necessarily mean coercion did not exist, but it complicates the simplified narrative of “forced removal.”.At the same time, photos and interviews reveal that these individuals appear to be in relatively good health, well-fed, and cared for. Their demeanour does not immediately align with images typically associated with forced expulsion. The contradiction between their apparent wellbeing, their stated confusion about their final destination, and Sooliman’s claims of forced removal leaves the public with more questions than answers.These questions become even sharper when considering Gift of the Givers’ track record in conflict zones. The organisation has a long history of gaining access to areas controlled by armed groups in Somalia, Yemen, and Gaza, often succeeding where state actors fail. Sooliman has often attributed this to the organisation’s neutrality and his religious identity, stating that militants trust him more readily than they trust Western institutions. Yet critics point out that such access requires relationships and sometimes close ones, with militant or extremist groups. Some analysts have described these networks as “nefarious,” alleging that his proximity to such groups raises concerns about ideological alignment or influence, even if no direct support for terrorism has ever been proven. Past associations, such as connections to the Al-Aqsa International Foundation, which was accused by some intelligence agencies of Islamist activism, deepen scepticism among those who believe Gift of the Givers operates with political undertones.This backdrop matters because it shapes how the public interprets Sooliman’s role in the Palestinian arrivals. If an organisation has the ability to communicate with armed groups and operate effectively in highly controlled conflict zones, it leads to legitimate inquiries about the nature of these connections. How is it that Gift of the Givers can negotiate releases, obtain access, or coordinate movements of civilians out of areas governed by militias? How does an NGO maintain such relationships without becoming entangled in political or ideological agendas? These questions do not diminish the real humanitarian assistance provided but highlight the complexity of operating in geopolitical grey zones..The South African government, for its part, now faces international scrutiny. The arrival of Palestinians without routine documentation raises questions of immigration control, state sovereignty, and foreign policy alignment. At the same time, South Africa has positioned itself as a leading voice in the global movement supporting Palestinian statehood and has brought cases against Israel to the International Court of Justice. The handling of these arrivals therefore has symbolic as well as practical implications, signalling how far the state is willing to go in affirming its political commitments.In the end, the situation is not simply about a flight of refugees, nor is it solely about humanitarian aid. It sits at the intersection of ideology, geopolitics, personal conviction, and national identity. Imtiaz Sooliman occupies a unique space in this mix, part revered humanitarian, part controversial ideologue. His statements about following Quranic law, his perceived sympathy toward Hamas, the shifting narratives about forced removals, and the organisation’s ability to navigate militant-controlled territories all contribute to the complexity surrounding this incident.The story of the Palestinian arrivals in South Africa is therefore less a straightforward case of refuge and more a reflection of a tangled web of motivations, intermediaries, and political interests. It exposes the difficulties of untangling humanitarian efforts from ideological influence, and the challenge of determining where compassion ends and geopolitics begins..*Thando Nzimande (he/him) is a neuroscientist and biomedical scientist with extensive academic and research experience.

Forced or facilitated? A gaze behind South Africa’s Palestinian arrivals: Thando Nzimande

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