Israel is reportedly in discussions with South Sudan about the possibility of resetting Palestinians from Gaza to war-torn East African countries.
Six people familiar with the issue confirmed that discussions were held with the Associated Press, but it is unclear how far they are going.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he wants to realize President Donald Trump’s vision of relocating much of Gaza’s population through what Netanyahu calls “voluntary immigration.”
Israel, like other African countries, including Sudan and Somalia, has come to the forefront of resettlement proposals.
Palestinians, rights groups, and many of the international community have rejected the proposal as a blueprint for forced expulsion in violation of international law.
Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment, while South Sudan’s Foreign Minister did not answer questions regarding the consultation.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson said he had not commented on private diplomatic conversations.
Opposition to resettlement
Joe Schravik, founder of a US lobbying company that works with South Sudan, said he was briefed on the consultations by South Sudan officials.
He said he plans to visit the country to investigate the possibility that Israeli delegations would establish camps for Palestinians.
No known dates were set for the visit, and Israel did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation of the visit. Szlavik said there is a high chance that Israel will pay for the makeshift camp.
Edmund Yakani, who heads the South Sudan civil society group, said he also spoke to South Sudan officials about the discussion.
Four additional officials with knowledge of the discussion confirmed that it was being conducted on the condition of anonymity.
The two Egyptian officials told the Associated Press, who has been aware for months about Israel’s efforts to find a country that will embrace Palestinians, including contacts with South Sudan. They said they are lobbying South Sudan for taking Palestinians.
Egypt is deeply opposed to the plan to move Palestinians from Gaza, where they share borders and fear refugees’ influx into their territory.
From one competing zone to another
Many Palestinians may want to temporarily leave Gaza and escape the hunger crisis adjacent to war and hunger.
However, they roundly refused to permanent resettlement from what they consider to be an integral part of their national homeland.
They fear that Israel will never allow them to return, and that a massive departure will annex it to Gaza and reestablish the Jewish settlements sought by the far-right ministers of the Israeli government.
Yet even Palestinians who want to leave don’t want to go to South Sudan among the most unstable and conflict-filled countries in the world.
South Sudan struggled to recover from the civil war that broke out after independence, killing nearly 400,000 people and plunging the country’s pockets into starvation.
Oil-rich countries are plagued by corruption and rely on international aid to feed 11 million people. This is a challenge that has grown since the Trump administration wiped out foreign aid.
The peace agreement reached seven years ago is fragile and incomplete, and the threat of war has returned when the leading opposition leader Riek Machar was placed on house arrest earlier this year.
Palestinians in particular may find themselves unwelcome. The long war for independence from Sudan pitted mainly the south of Christianity and Animist against the north of Arabs and Muslims.
Yakani, a civil society group, said South Sudanese need to know who is coming and how long they will stay.
“South Sudan should not be a dumping ground for people,” he said. “And we shouldn’t accept bringing people along as something to negotiate tips to improve our relationship.”
Additional sources •AP
