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An intervention from a non-governmental organization (NGO) finally allowed the stranded individuals to disembark. Out of the group, 23 were able to travel to other countries, taking flights to destinations including Australia, Canada, and Malaysia, thanks to the visas they obtained.
According to Australian immigration policy, “All non-citizens who wish to travel to, enter, or remain in Australia must meet all legal criteria, including identity, health, character, and security requirements.”
Amid the dire circumstances during the famine in Gaza, the individuals described being so weakened that walking became a struggle. They recounted experiencing severe exhaustion and hunger, often seeing double due to their debilitated state.
The moment of reunion was described as “very, very bittersweet” by those involved. While the individuals had endured significant hardships, the relief of finally having them back safely was profoundly moving.
In a twist of events, these individuals from Gaza somehow found themselves on a flight that made a stopover in Nairobi before reaching their destination, a journey described as mysterious by one observer.
“It was very, very bittersweet, because they had been obviously through so much, but just being able to have them within our grasp again, was very beautiful.”
Mystery surrounds organisation behind departure
“These are people from Gaza who somehow mysteriously were put on a plane that passed by Nairobi and came here,” he said.
Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Al-Majd, which described itself on its website as a humanitarian organisation “providing aid and rescue efforts to Muslim communities in conflict and war zones”, was run by a dual Israeli-Estonian national.
“It does look like it represents a broader agenda to remove Palestinians from Palestine into many different parts of the world, and is a clearly orchestrated operation,” he said.
“This is them making that brutal decision of, ‘We don’t know what the future holds in Gaza. We love our country, we love our people, but it looks like this is what is being afforded to us’.”
