An Israeli organization has been secretly organizing flights that have evacuated hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza since May, according to an Associated Press investigation. At least three charter flights carrying Gaza residents have landed in Indonesia and South Africa, with passengers often unaware of who funded their departure from the war-torn territory.

The flights were organized by Ad Kan, an Israeli group founded by soldiers and former intelligence officers, working through a company called Al-Majd to distance itself from direct Israeli involvement. Ad Kan's founder, Gilad Ach, is a West Bank settler activist who previously supported former President Donald Trump's proposal to resettle Palestinians from Gaza. The organization's Hebrew name means "enough is enough" and has historically worked to expose what it considers anti-Israel activities.

Palestinians who spoke to AP said they paid up to $2,000 per person for the flights through bank and cryptocurrency transfers. Many reported they were desperate to leave Gaza after more than two years of devastating war and didn't know their final destination when boarding. "There was famine, and we had no options. My children were almost killed," said one 37-year-old Palestinian who arrived in South Africa in November.

The evacuation operations have drawn international scrutiny. South African Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola called the flights part of "a clear agenda to cleanse out the Palestinians out of Gaza and the West Bank." After a November flight, South Africa revoked its 90-day visa exemptions for Palestinian passport holders, citing "deliberate and ongoing abuse" by Israelis linked to emigration efforts.

Ach defended the flights as humanitarian in nature, saying those who left reached out for help and that some paid part of the costs. He denied allegations that the flights were meant to cleanse Gaza of Palestinians, stating in a text message to AP that he was proud to support Palestinians who want to leave for safer areas. The Israeli government has approached several countries about facilitating emigration from Gaza and created a Voluntary Emigration Bureau run by the Defense Ministry.

Critics argue that emigration from Gaza cannot be considered voluntary given the widespread destruction from the war that has left much of the territory uninhabitable. Rights groups also warn that people need to be allowed to return, noting Israel's historical restrictions on Palestinian movement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office and defense officials declined to comment on the flights or whether Palestinians who fled would be allowed to return.