Countries conversationally mentioned with Israel regarding the potential resettlement of displaced Palestinians
In recent developments, there have been covert discussions primarily between Israel and South Sudan regarding the possible resettlement of Palestinians displaced by the war in Gaza. These talks involve exploring South Sudan as a potential destination for Gaza's Palestinian population amidst the humanitarian crisis.
However, it's important to note that there is no confirmation of similar discussions taking place with Somaliland, Ethiopia, Libya, and Indonesia. While some reports suggest these countries as potential resettlement locations, most have either rejected these proposals or made no public comment.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been at the forefront of these discussions, expressing his willingness to resettle displaced Palestinians in other countries. In an interview, he claimed that the plan is not to "push out" Palestinians but to "allow them to leave." Yet, he has never given a detailed vision of what will happen to Gaza after the war.
In a controversial move, Netanyahu also expressed his connection to the vision of a "Greater Israel" during an interview. This term refers to a state of Israel that is beyond the current borders, often used as a reference to Biblical Israel. This statement was met with sharp statements from several Arab states, including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, who demanded clarifications on the use of the term due to its implications of provoking instability and rejecting peace.
Meanwhile, South Sudan has rejected a report that it is in discussions about the resettlement of Palestinians. Somaliland, too, has previously stated that there are no such talks about resettling Palestinians.
Amidst these discussions, more than 100 humanitarian organizations have called on Israel to end the weaponization of aid in Gaza. Additionally, Indonesia has offered to take in 2,000 Palestinians from Gaza for treatment, but plans for them to return once they recover.
The conversation about "Greater Israel" did not appear on the official channel's full interview, but a longer version with Netanyahu's comments was posted on Sharon Gal's account on X. The international community is closely watching these developments, with growing alarm over Israel's stated plan to take over Gaza City, home to over one million Palestinians.
Shaina Low, Communications Adviser for the Norwegian Refugee Council, stated that plans to relocate Palestinians are not acceptable under international law. As the situation unfolds, it remains unclear how advanced the discussions are and whether they are likely to come to fruition.
The international community closely watches the ongoing discussions between Israel and South Sudan about resettling Palestinians, with concern about potential future talks with other countries like Somaliland, Ethiopia, Libya, and Indonesia. The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has been vocal about his plans to resettle displaced Palestinians in other countries, specifically mentioning a "Greater Israel" vision. This controversial statement has sparked sharp responses from Arab states such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, expressing concern over its implications. Simultaneously, humanitarian organizations have called on Israel to end the weaponization of aid in Gaza, while Indonesia has offered to take in Palestinians for medical treatments, with the understanding they would return once recovered.
