Israel is in talks with five countries — Indonesia, Somaliland, Uganda, South Sudan and Libya — about the potential resettlement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, Channel 12 reports.
“Some of the countries are showing greater openness than before to accepting voluntary immigration from the Gaza Strip,” a diplomatic source tells the outlet, naming Indonesia and Somaliland in particular. However, no concrete decisions have reportedly been made.
Somaliland is a breakaway region of Somalia that is reportedly hoping to secure international recognition through the deal.
The report comes alongside claims from The Associated Press that Israel had discussed resettling Gazans in South Sudan — an assertion the African nation’s government has rejected as “baseless” and not reflective of its official policy.
In an interview with the i24 news channel last night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced support for the mass emigration of Gazans — a policy endorsed by US President Donald Trump earlier this year — saying Israel is in contact with “several countries” about absorbing displaced civilians from the war-torn territory.
“I think this is the most natural thing,” Netanyahu said. “All those who are concerned for the Palestinians and say they want to help the Palestinians should open their doors to them. What are you preaching to us for? We’re not pushing them out — we’re enabling them to leave… first of all, [leaving] combat zones, and also the Strip itself, if they want to.”
Pressed on why the process has not progressed, Netanyahu replied: “You need receiving countries. We are talking to several countries — I won’t detail them here.”