Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas has called on South Sudan to refuse Israel’s reported proposal to relocate Gazan residents, warning it would amount to a “war crime” — even as diplomatic leaks claim a secret deal is already in place.
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas is pressing South Sudan to reject what he says is an Israeli-backed resettlement plan to move residents of the Gaza Strip to the African nation.
In a strongly worded statement, Abbas’s office praised Juba’s resistance to any plan that would “eliminate the Palestinian issue or harm the unity of the Palestinian people and land,” hailing South Sudan’s position as “courageous and committed to international law and resolutions that define displacement as a war crime.”
Official Denial vs. Diplomatic Leaks
On Wednesday, South Sudan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry publicly denied the existence of any such talks, calling the claims “baseless” and not reflective of official policy. The ministry urged the media to “verify information through official channels” before publication.
However, diplomatic sources told The Telegraph a very different story — alleging that South Sudan has quietly agreed to take in Gaza Arab civilians under a secret arrangement involving Israel, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates.
According to the report, the South Sudanese cabinet has approved the deal, which would include:
- Israeli investment in infrastructure
- US sanctions relief for Juba
- Emirati financial support to implement the resettlement program
Political and Legal Flashpoint
Abbas’s statement framed the alleged plan as both a violation of international law and an indirect endorsement of Israel’s war in Gaza. He called on South Sudan to maintain its stance against “forced displacement” and uphold Palestinian unity and rights.
If confirmed, the deal would represent one of the most dramatic population transfer arrangements in the region’s modern history — and could spark intense diplomatic and legal backlash worldwide.
