Israel discussing plan to move Gaza Palestinians abroad

Gaza-(Special Correspondent/Web desk) South Sudan and Israel are holding talks over a possible plan to resettle Palestinians from war-torn Gaza, according to three sources who spoke to Reuters. Palestinian leaders have already dismissed the idea as unacceptable. The sources, who requested anonymity, said no deal has been reached but discussions are ongoing. If carried forward, the plan would move people from Gaza, devastated by nearly two years of war with Israel, to South Sudan, a country struggling with years of political and ethnic conflict. Israeli officials did not immediately comment on the report.

A spokesperson for the US State Department said Washington would not comment on “private diplomatic conversations” when asked about the reported plan and whether the United States supported it.

Netanyahu’s Position

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he intends to extend military control over Gaza. This week, he repeated suggestions that Palestinians should leave the territory voluntarily.

Arab and Palestinian Rejection

Arab and world leaders have rejected the idea of moving Gaza’s population to another country. Palestinians warn such a move would amount to another “Nakba” — the 1948 catastrophe when hundreds of thousands fled or were forced from their homes.UN reports 1760 Palestinians killed while seeking aid in Gaza

Talks with South Sudan

Three sources told Reuters that the resettlement idea was raised during meetings last month between Israeli officials and South Sudanese Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba during his visit to Israel. Their account, however, appeared to contradict South Sudan’s foreign ministry, which dismissed earlier reports of the plan as “baseless.” The ministry did not immediately respond to the new claims.

First Reports

News of the discussions first surfaced on Tuesday in an Associated Press report, citing six people familiar with the matter.

Palestinian Leadership Response

Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee, said Palestinians “reject any plan or idea to displace any of our people to South Sudan or to any other place.” His comments echoed a statement from President Mahmoud Abbas’s office on Thursday. Hamas has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Israeli Diplomatic Visits

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, who visited South Sudan’s capital Juba this week, said her talks there did not focus on relocation. “This is not what the discussions were about,” she told reporters. Instead, she said the meetings covered foreign policy, multilateral organisations, South Sudan’s humanitarian crisis, and the war.

Netanyahu’s Wider Efforts

Netanyahu, who also met Kumba last month, has said Israel is in contact with a few countries about taking in Palestinians who want to leave Gaza. He has not provided further details.