Despite official denials, multiple sources confirm that Israel and South Sudan are in discreet talks to relocate Gazan civilians, sparking Palestinian outrage and international intrigue.
Israel and South Sudan are quietly discussing a potential deal to resettle Gazans in the African nation, according to three sources who spoke to Reuters on Friday. While no agreement has been finalized, the talks are said to be ongoing behind the scenes.
The confidential negotiations reportedly came up during South Sudanese Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba’s visit to Israel last month, where the matter was discussed with Israeli officials.
The Associated Press first exposed the discussions on Tuesday, citing six sources familiar with the matter. South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry quickly dismissed those reports as “baseless.” However, the latest claims suggest that the issue is very much alive, even if still shrouded in secrecy.
Adding to the intrigue, The Telegraph reported Thursday that South Sudan had already agreed to the resettlement plan, one allegedly brokered with Israel, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates.
The Palestinian Authority responded with furious rejection. Senior official Wasel Abu Youssef declared:
“We reject any plan or idea to displace any of our people to South Sudan or to any other place.”
This echoed a statement from PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas’s office, branding any resettlement move as an unacceptable attempt to erase Palestinian identity and uproot communities from Gaza.
With denials on one side, leaks on the other, and the involvement of major regional players, the shadowy talks highlight the intensifying search for a post-war solution to Gaza—and the explosive sensitivities around any proposal to remove its population.
