Khaberni - Many details are beginning to emerge about the organization "Majd Europe," which recently organized flights from the Gaza Strip to South Africa, amid suspicions related to human trafficking under the guise of humanitarian work.
According to Israeli media, the organization offers Palestinians a payment of about 2000 US dollars, ensuring them a seat aboard a chartered aircraft to destinations such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and South Africa.
An investigation by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed that behind this organization, named "Majd," is Tomer Genar Lind, who holds both Israeli and Estonian citizenship.
Although its website states that it was founded in Germany and has offices in East Jerusalem, the Haaretz newspaper found that it is backed by a consultancy firm registered in Estonia.
The newspaper also learned that the "Voluntary Migration Directorate" of the Ministry of Defense referred the organization to the Israeli Immigration Department to coordinate the departure of the residents.
In recent months, several chartered flights have taken off from Ramon Airport near Eilat, transporting groups of dozens of Gazans to various destinations around the world.
The newspaper reported that the departure of groups from Gaza was organized by an unidentified organization, which its website describes as a "humanitarian organization specializing in assisting and rescuing Muslim communities from war zones."
International Investigations
International investigative bodies have opened a file on an organization called "Majd Europe" after it organized flights from the Gaza Strip to South Africa, according to a video report broadcast by Al Jazeera English.
The report revealed worrying details about this entity that presented itself as a humanitarian organization, while indications point to illegal activities.
According to the investigation, on November 13, "Majd Europe" organized a flight to transport 153 Palestinians from Gaza to Johannesburg, South Africa, at a time when the region is suffering from a severe blockade and deteriorating humanitarian conditions. This was the second plane carrying people from Gaza to South Africa within two weeks.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said in the report that "his nation was taken by surprise by the flight," and added, "These people from Gaza, were somehow mysteriously placed on a plane, which passed through Nairobi and came here, and I heard about it from the Minister of the Interior."
He continued, stating that the Minister "wanted to know what we should do now, so I told him we cannot send them back, even though they do not possess the necessary documents and papers, as they came from a country torn by conflict and war, and out of mercy and sympathy we must receive them."
According to the report, the passengers said the plane took off from Israel after they were transferred there from Gaza, indicating they had applied online, and each paid 5000 dollars.
The investigation showed that the organization relies on a website registered in Iceland, offering what it calls "humanitarian evacuation" for civilians, but South African regulatory authorities have begun raising questions about the nature of these operations, their funding, and the entities behind them after several suspicious issues.
Deception and Fraud
The investigation clarifies that this organization accepts donations only in digital currencies, complicating the tracking of its funding sources, and the images posted on the site of people supposedly being executive directors were later found to be produced using artificial intelligence, raising further doubts about the credibility of the organization.
The alleged organization did not respond to comment requests despite attempts to contact them, which increased the mystery surrounding it.
The report indicates that the investigations are currently focusing on whether these flights were used to transport people by illegal means, exploiting the humanitarian emergency in Gaza.
The investigation also highlights the challenges faced by regulatory authorities in dealing with organizations active in conflict zones, especially when they use advanced digital tools such as artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies, as these technologies can be used as means of deception and fraud, necessitating enhanced auditing and accountability mechanisms.
This file comes at a time when concerns are growing about the exploitation of humanitarian crises for suspicious purposes, amid the lack of effective international oversight of some entities operating under the guise of humanitarian work.
The report raises fundamental questions about the responsibility of states and organizations to ensure that humanitarian aid truly serves the needy and is not a means for smuggling or human trafficking.
