The European Union reaffirmed on Tuesday that it rejects any demographic or territorial changes in the Gaza Strip, following reports that dozens of Palestinians recently arrived in South Africa on chartered flights arranged from Gaza.
The EU said its position remains unchanged: Gaza must remain an integral part of a future Palestinian state, and no forced displacement or alteration of territorial control should occur.
EU Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni told reporters in Brussels that the bloc opposes any attempts to alter Gaza’s territorial status and supports the unification of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority.
He cited earlier remarks by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who stressed that Gaza is an essential part of a future Palestinian state and that no further forced displacement of Palestinians should take place.
The renewed EU statement came after South Africa granted temporary entry to 153 Palestinians who had arrived from Kenya seeking asylum.
South African officials said the group initially faced entry issues due to missing travel documents and the absence of departure stamps and later described the flight as a “clearly orchestrated operation” aimed at removing Palestinians from Gaza.
According to publicly available reporting, an association run by a man with dual Israeli‑Estonian citizenship has been selling seats on chartered flights for Palestinians in Gaza to travel to destinations such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Africa.
Israel has previously discussed the possibility of relocating Palestinians to several countries, including South Sudan.
A second EU spokesperson, Paula Pinho, said the Commission is reviewing the reports and assessing whether the departures constitute forced or voluntary displacement. She added that the EU is monitoring the situation closely.
The EU also expressed deep concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and called for immediate, unhindered humanitarian access and sustained aid distribution.
