Nigeria, Nov. 15 -- South Africa has launched an investigation into how a chartered plane carrying more than 150 Palestinians from war-torn Gaza landed in Johannesburg without proper travel documents or prior coordination, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Friday.

The Associated Press reported that the aircraft arrived at O.R. Tambo International Airport on Thursday morning, but the passengers were held on board for nearly 12 hours.

South Africa's border authorities said the Palestinians could not explain where they intended to stay, and did not have the exit stamps or slips that are usually issued by Israeli officials to people leaving Gaza.

Rights groups sharply criticised the government for keeping the 153 passengers, including fami...