Rafah: Browsing the internet for a way out of the Gaza Strip to flee daily Israeli bombardment, Bashir, a displaced civilian in Rafah city, found an organization called Al-Majd Europe offering him the chance to leave the battered enclave.
According to Anadolu Agency, when Bashir tried a number for the organization he found on Facebook, a Palestinian man called Moayad answered him from Indonesia. Moayad informed Bashir that he was flown out of Gaza by Al-Majd to Indonesia, where he became a representative for Palestinian families wishing to leave the Strip. Bashir, who did not give his full name, was told that he could leave Gaza for Indonesia for a fee of $1,400 per seat. Bashir managed to gather $6,000 and decided to pay the fee due to the dire conditions in Gaza.
Bashir was instructed to transfer the funds to a bank account and subsequently received detailed instructions for his departure. His journey began with a message directing him to Khan Younis, and he eventually boarded a bus that took him to the Kerem Shalom crossing. Although he did not see any Israeli soldiers, the trip was under army control. Passengers were instructed by representatives of the Shaheibar company to remove their shoes and jackets and were only allowed to carry medicine. They were given wristbands that remained on until they reached Ramon Airport in southern Israel.
Initially told their destination would be Jakarta, Bashir and others found out mid-journey that their destination had changed to South Africa due to travel permit issues in Jakarta. After a drive to Ramon Airport, the group boarded a flight to Nairobi and then on to South Africa. Bashir reported entering South Africa without issues and received assistance from the charity organization Gift of the Givers.
Bashir's daughter followed him on a subsequent flight for $2,000, but her experience was different as South African police interrogated passengers amid suspicions of a scheme to displace Palestinians. Despite this, South Africa granted a 90-day visa exemption to 153 Palestinians aboard the flight.
Al-Majd Europe, which facilitated these flights, claims to be founded in Germany but is actually registered in Estonia and operates through a front company. It is run by Tomer Janar Lind, who has ties to an Israeli military unit involved in the transfer of Palestinians.
Bashir emphasized that his journey was a survival necessity and not a decision to permanently resettle abroad. He expressed a desire to return to Gaza, despite the widespread destruction caused by the Israeli military. The conflict has resulted in significant loss of life and displacement, with nearly 40,000 Palestinians leaving the Gaza Strip since the war began.