Gaza Herald – A Jewish settlement-linked organization has been orchestrating flights to relocate Palestinians out of Gaza to countries in Asia and Africa, raising alarm over potential efforts to depopulate the besieged enclave, according to an investigation by the Associated Press.
The report identified the group as “Ad Kan,” which allegedly coordinated the transfer of around 380 Palestinians from Gaza since May 2025 to destinations including Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Africa. The operation took place amid worsening humanitarian conditions driven by war and widespread destruction in the territory.
Documents obtained by the investigation showed the use of a front company named “Al-Majd” to obscure direct links to the organization. The group reportedly included former Israeli military personnel who played key roles in managing the operation behind the scenes.
Some Palestinians reportedly paid up to $2,000 per seat, while organizers used Arabic-speaking teams to communicate with passengers and conceal any visible Israeli connection, according to testimonies cited in the report.
The operation drew international attention in November 2025, when a flight carrying about 150 Palestinians arrived in Johannesburg without clear travel documentation, prompting South African authorities to detain passengers on board for hours and later launch an investigation into the incident.
While some Palestinians said they were primarily seeking to escape devastating conditions in Gaza, rights groups warned that departures under war and siege conditions cannot be considered fully voluntary and may amount to coerced displacement.
The investigation raised further concerns over the long-term fate of those who left, as it remains unclear whether they will be allowed to return to Gaza, amid the absence of any official Israeli policy on their re-entry.
