Legal limbo adds to woes of displaced Gazan family

A Palestinian mother who fled Gaza on the first of two charter flights to land in South Africa says she is living in fear as her 90-day visa approaches expiry and she remains without clear legal status. Ayesha* and her son, arrived in Johannesburg on a short-term visa after escaping the war in Gaza. 

“I don’t know what will happen when the visa expires, and I don’t want to become undocumented or face the risk of deportation,” she told the SA Jewish Report. “I’m a single mother with a young child, and I fear being asked to leave before we have any legal protection or a safe place to go.” 

Earlier this month, the Department of Home Affairs announced that it had withdrawn with immediate effect the 90-day visa exemption for Palestinians. It claimed that the exemption had been abused by some travellers, who failed to report to refugee reception offices to regularise their status after arriving in South Africa. It also said that some individuals had given incorrect information about the purpose of their visit. The withdrawal applies to new arrivals, and doesn’t affect those already in the country under the exemption. 

Ayesha said that despite this clarification, no official body had clearly explained her legal position. “Everything I know has come from individuals who are trying to help,” she said. “There hasn’t been any official source giving us comprehensive guidance, which leaves us anxious and uncertain.” 

Since arriving in South Africa, she has encountered kindness from many ordinary South Africans, but has struggled with official processes. Her son has received some medical attention and limited educational assistance, and the family was offered temporary housing when they first arrived. She said the support had been inconsistent, and legal assistance remains their most urgent need. 

Ayesha is trying to understand how to apply for refugee status or another form of legal protection, but she said her intention was always to return home when it was safe to do so. “My true hope is to return to Gaza. I’m not seeking a new homeland, only safety until peace returns to my country.” 

At the same time, she said, she had to think about the long-term future of her son if the war continued. 

She describes an overwhelming emotional toll of being displaced. “Being a single mother in a new country, trying to protect my son from trauma, is emotionally exhausting. What breaks my heart most is when my son asks me every day when we can go back home to his toys and friends.” 

Her image of return is simple and personal. “A peaceful return means going back to Gaza without fear, and seeing my son play in our neighbourhood without the sound of bombs. It means living in a safe home again, restoring normal life, away from war and displacement.” 

Ayesha said she was upset by public statements suggesting that the Palestinians who left Gaza were part of an organised relocation effort. She said Gift of the Givers had provided some assistance when her family first arrived in South Africa, but their current needs remain unmet. 

“What Dr Sooliman said is painful and unfair,” she said. “We didn’t leave our homeland by choice. We escaped the bombing and destruction to protect our children’s lives. Returning to Gaza isn’t possible right now because of the ongoing war and constant danger, and no-one leaves their land unless they are forced to.” 

Simon Apfel, a Johannesburg resident who helped Ayesha and her family after they arrived, said he first learned about their situation through a social media post. “I followed the chain of contacts and eventually reached Ayesha directly.” 

Before the war, Apfel says, Ayesha ran a soup kitchen for displaced Gazans in Deir al Balah. She also ran a café and taught Arabic online, including to Jews and Israelis. One of her early messages to him left a strong impression. 

“I escaped from Hamas’s rule, and from the oppression and corruption that spread in Gaza. I am always for peace and love. I have many Jewish friends whom I love very much,” she wrote. 

Apfel said he contacted several community organisations in an effort to secure assistance for the family, but without success. He later invited Ayesha, her son, and a friend with her daughter to his home for Shabbat dinner. On the same evening, he also invited a young Israeli backpacker he had met at the airport. 

“I gave him a heads up about our other guests,” Apfel said. “Though he is relatively right-wing, he is also an adventurous type and eagerly accepted the invitation.” The evening became an unexpected meeting between Israelis and Gazans far from the Middle East conflict. 

“He got on so well with the family, and exchanged numbers with the dad. He also spoke some Arabic with them,” Apfel said. “It’s amazing how an Israeli had to come all the way to South Africa to meet Gazans for the first time.” 

During the dinner, the family spoke about their life in Gaza before their escape, including living in a tent for two years and the daily struggle to survive. Apfel said they described how their son had been unable to attend school, and how every day had been dominated by the question of staying alive. 

“After Shabbos, we opened their gift bag and realised they had brought us R1 500 worth of Shabbat presents including a Christmas snow globe,” he said. 

Apfel said reactions from within the Jewish community had been mixed. “People from our community are generally shocked when I tell them we are helping this family and had them round for a Shabbat meal,” he said. “Some are pleasantly surprised and encouraged by the story.” 

For Ayesha, the focus remains on securing legal status and stability for her son. “All I hope for now is safety and clear legal status so I can build a stable life for my child,” she said. 

* Her name has been changed to protect her identity as she fears for her life.