South Africa 'suspicious' over 'agenda to cleanse Palestinians out of Gaza', foreign minister says

The arrival in South Africa of a plane of 153 Palestinians last week was "suspicious" and indicated "a clear agenda to cleanse Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank," the country's foreign minister said on Monday.

The group arrived on a chartered flight and without departure stamps from Israel on their passports.

"We are suspicious as a South African government about the circumstances surrounding the arrival of the plane," Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola said, adding: "This is a clear agenda to cleanse Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank."