The United States and Israel have reached out to officials of three East African governments – Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland – to discuss using their territories as potential destinations for moving Palestinians uprooted from the Gaza Strip under President Donald Trump’s proposed postwar plan.
According to American and Israeli officials, the contacts reflect the determination by the US and Israel to press ahead with a plan that has been widely condemned due to serious legal and moral issues. The proposal involves permanently relocating over 2 million people from Gaza, which would be overseen by the US.
Sudan was initially approached about accepting Palestinians, but officials confirmed the country rejected the idea, stating it “categorically rejects” any plan that aims to transfer Palestinians. Somali officials also denied any discussions about taking in Palestinians, while Somaliland’s new president has made international recognition a priority and is being approached by the US for potential help.
The proposal has raised concerns over its feasibility and legality, with many experts labeling it as a “fantasy” of Israel’s ultranationalist fringe. Rights groups have warned that forcing or pressuring Palestinians to leave could be a potential war crime.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-trump-somaliland-sudan-somalia-575e03aaa0c487bae2fbadfdef8f5ca3