US, Israel explore African nations for Palestinian resettlement amid controversy

File Source: KUTV

The United States and Israel have approached officials from Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland to explore resettling Palestinians displaced from Gaza under President Donald Trump’s postwar proposal, American and Israeli officials told The Associated Press. The plan has sparked international condemnation, with critics calling it legally and morally unacceptable.

The proposal, which envisions permanently relocating more than 2 million Palestinians from Gaza, has been dismissed as unrealistic and unlawful by rights groups and Arab nations. Trump has pitched the idea of turning Gaza into a U.S.-administered real estate project after a lengthy cleanup process, a vision Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has praised as “bold.” However, Palestinians have rejected the plan outright, dismissing Israeli claims that any departures would be voluntary. Arab leaders have countered with a reconstruction plan that keeps Palestinians in place, while human rights organizations warn that forcing or pressuring them to leave could constitute a war crime. Despite mounting opposition, the White House has reaffirmed that Trump “stands by his vision.”

Speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, U.S. and Israeli officials confirmed outreach efforts to Somalia and Somaliland, while American officials also cited Sudan. They acknowledged that the extent of progress and the level at which talks were held remain unclear. According to U.S. sources, separate diplomatic efforts began shortly after Trump introduced his plan alongside Netanyahu last month, with Israel leading the negotiations.

Sudanese officials confirmed that the Trump administration had reached out to their military-led government, offering incentives such as military assistance, postwar reconstruction support, and other undisclosed benefits. However, Sudan swiftly rejected the proposal. “This suggestion was immediately rebuffed,” said one official. “No one opened this matter again.” Military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan later told an Arab leaders’ summit in Cairo that Sudan “categorically rejects” any attempt to transfer “the brotherly Palestinians from their land under whatever justification or name.”

Sudan’s inclusion in the discussions is notable given its past normalization efforts with Israel. As part of the Abraham Accords brokered in 2020, Sudan agreed to establish diplomatic ties with Israel in exchange for its removal from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. However, the relationship never fully materialized due to Sudan’s ongoing civil war, which has been marred by ethnic violence, atrocities, and allegations of genocide. The U.S. and Israel would likely struggle to convince Palestinians to relocate to such an unstable country, but debt relief, military aid, and diplomatic backing could entice Sudan’s leadership.

Somaliland, a self-declared independent region of Somalia that has operated autonomously since 1991 but lacks international recognition, has also been identified as a potential resettlement location. Somaliland’s new president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, has prioritized securing recognition for the territory, an issue that the U.S. may leverage in negotiations. A U.S. official involved in the discussions confirmed “having a quiet conversation with Somaliland about a range of areas where they can be helpful to the U.S. in exchange for recognition.”

While Somaliland has been relatively stable compared to Somalia, it remains one of the world’s poorest regions. The United Arab Emirates, a key Abraham Accords partner, previously maintained a military base in Somaliland and still has commercial interests there, including a strategic port near the Gulf of Aden. Despite this, an official in Somaliland denied any knowledge of discussions regarding Palestinian resettlement, stating that the government had not been approached.

Somalia, a longtime supporter of Palestinian self-rule, appears an unlikely candidate for the plan. The country has hosted pro-Palestinian protests and joined Arab nations in rejecting Trump’s proposal. “The realignments keep changing, and so maybe there is a hidden agenda,” said Sambu Chepkorir, a lawyer and conflict researcher in Nairobi, Kenya. A Somali official, also speaking anonymously, confirmed that his government had not been contacted and was not engaged in any talks about accepting Palestinians from Gaza.

While Israel and the U.S. have yet to formally announce their plans, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a vocal proponent of “voluntary” Palestinian emigration, recently stated that Israel is actively identifying countries willing to accept Palestinian refugees. He also revealed that Israel is preparing a “very large emigration department” within its Defense Ministry.

With the White House declining to comment on the outreach efforts and Netanyahu’s office remaining silent, the extent to which these plans will progress remains uncertain. However, as tensions persist, the controversial proposal continues to fuel global debate over the future of Gaza and its people.