US and Israeli officials say governments in Sudan, Somalia and Somaliland have been asked to take the people of Gaza.
The US and Israel discussed the forced ouster of Palestinians from Gaza to the breakaway regions of Sudan, Somalia and Somaliland, according to Israeli officials cited by the Associated Press.
According to a report on Friday, Sudanese officials allegedly refused to overture from the US, while officials in Somalia and Somaliland told the Associated Press that they were unaware of any contact details.
On the condition of anonymity to discuss the secret diplomatic initiative, US and Israeli officials confirmed contacts between Somalia and Somaliland, but US officials also confirmed Sudan. They said it was unclear how much progress has progressed in the effort or at what level of discussion took place.
The development has been more than a month since President Donald Trump came up with the idea of forcing Palestinians away and “taking over” the Gaza Strip. It has been thoroughly rejected by the Palestinians and Middle Eastern countries, and many describe it as ethnic cleansing.
According to US officials, Israel was leading the debate a few days after Trump came to the Gaza plan with Netanyahu.
There was no immediate response to reports from the US or Israel.
But Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a longtime defender whom he calls Palestinian “voluntary” immigrants, said this week that Israel is preparing a “very large immigration sector” within the Ministry of Defense.
“Red Line”
Tamer Qarmout, an associate professor at the Doha Graduate Institute, told Al Jazeera that forced displacement for Palestinians is “a red line that should not be intersected.”
He said governments around the world are responsible for stopping “outrageous” proposals, saying “we should not engage with Israel on any of these scenarios,” and that the evacuation of Palestinians to African countries in particular “many of which continue to struggle from colonial heritage.”
“Sudan and Somalia are still being destroyed by war due to colonial heritage. They [the Israeli government] Qarmout added.
In exchange for accepting resettled Palestinians, the East African government is believed to be provided with a variety of financial, diplomatic and security-incentives.
US officials involved in the US efforts confirmed with the Associated Press that the US is “in a quiet conversation with Somaliland about various areas that will help the US in exchange for recognition.”
The United States has been able to provide an internationally recognized breakaway region of over 3 million people. This is a priority for Somaliland’s new president, Abdiramanmohammed Abdullahhi.
Meanwhile, Nairobi lawyer and conflict researcher Sambu Chebkoril said that given the country’s strong support for Palestinian self-center, it is difficult to understand why Somalia wants to host Palestinians.
“As the reorganization continues to change, there may be an agenda hidden in why Somali’s reasons,” Chebkoriel said.
Two Sudanese officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive diplomatic issues, confirming that the Trump administration approached a military-led government in accepting Palestinians.
People said contact information began even before Trump’s inauguration, with military support for RSF paramilitary groups, support for postwar reconstruction and other incentives.
Both authorities said the Sudanese government rejected the idea. “The proposal was immediately rejected,” one official said. “No one has opened up this issue again.”
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