South Sudan and Israel are reportedly holding talks over a possible plan to resettle Palestinians from Gaza in the African nation. According to three sources familiar with the matter, discussions have taken place but no agreement has been finalized.
The proposal would involve relocating people from Gaza, which has been devastated by almost two years of war with Israel, to South Sudan. However, South Sudan itself has faced years of internal conflict and political instability, raising doubts about the viability of such a plan.
Neither Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office nor Israel’s foreign ministry has commented on the reported talks. The U.S. State Department also declined to confirm any details, saying it does not discuss private diplomatic conversations.
Netanyahu has previously suggested extending Israeli military control in Gaza and encouraged Palestinians to leave voluntarily. But Arab nations and Palestinian leaders strongly oppose any relocation, warning it could repeat the displacement seen during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
Palestinian leaders quickly rejected the idea. Wasel Abu Youssef of the Palestine Liberation Organization stated that Palestinians will not accept any plan to displace them to South Sudan or elsewhere. President Mahmoud Abbas’s office also issued a firm rejection.
South Sudan’s foreign ministry earlier dismissed reports of such negotiations as “baseless.” Yet, the three sources said the issue was raised during a meeting between South Sudanese Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba and Israeli officials last month.
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, who visited Juba this week, said the discussions were focused on humanitarian issues and foreign policy, not relocation. Still, Netanyahu has acknowledged that Israel is in touch with several countries about possible destinations for Palestinians wishing to leave Gaza.
For now, the reported talks highlight the uncertainty surrounding Gaza’s future as Israel continues its military operations in the territory.
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