Israel and South Sudan are reportedly in talks over a possible plan to resettle Gaza Palestinians in the African country. The information comes from three unnamed sources who spoke to Reuters. These sources said discussions took place last month during the visit of South Sudanese Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba to Israel.
No formal agreement has been reached, but talks are said to be ongoing. If confirmed, the plan would move people from war-torn Gaza to South Sudan, a country facing its own political and security challenges.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently suggested that Palestinians should leave Gaza voluntarily. He has also said that Israel is speaking with several countries about receiving those who choose to leave. However, no specific nations have been publicly named.
South Sudan’s foreign ministry earlier denied any such plan, calling the reports “baseless.” However, it has not responded to the latest claims. Israeli officials have also avoided directly confirming the reports. Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, who visited South Sudan this week, said the talks were focused on humanitarian issues and foreign policy—not relocation.
The Gaza Palestinians, who have suffered from nearly two years of war, strongly oppose the idea of being moved. Palestinian officials say any plan to displace them would be unacceptable. They compare it to the Nakba of 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced to leave their homes during the Arab-Israeli war.
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the office of President Mahmoud Abbas both rejected the idea. PLO official Wasel Abu Youssef said Palestinians would not accept relocation to South Sudan or any other country.
Most global and regional leaders also oppose moving Gaza residents abroad. They insist on finding solutions that keep the Gaza Palestinians in their homeland. As of now, the future of these discussions remains unclear.
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