The United States and Israel have approached representatives of three East African governments with the potential of resettling Gaza’s displaced Palestinians under President Donald Trump’s suggested postwar arrangement, U.S. and Israeli officials familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. The talks included Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland, where Sudan officials confirmed they turned down the proposal, and Somali and Somaliland officials denied any information regarding such contacts.
Trump’s plan will relocate more than two million Gazans permanently, with the U.S. taking over the land for a redevelopment and cleanup endeavor. The proposal, once regarded as an extremist notion in Israel’s ultranationalist camp, has been adopted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who described it as a “bold vision.” But the plan has been widely condemned, with Palestinian organizations rejecting it and Arab states suggesting an alternative reconstruction plan that would enable Palestinians to stay. Rights groups caution that forcibly moving Palestinians may amount to a war crime.
U.S. and Israeli diplomats, who were speaking anonymously to detail the covert diplomatic initiative, confirmed that Israel has taken charge of the negotiations with the three East African nations since the plan was brought out by Trump. Although the White House wouldn’t speak, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich confirmed attempts to scout for countries willing to take in Palestinian emigrants and announced that Israel is planning a “very big emigration department” at its Defense Ministry.
Sudan’s Rejection
Sudan, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, was approached by the Trump administration regarding the resettlement of Palestinians. The nation is, however, in the middle of a civil war between its government forces and the RSF paramilitary organization. The war has brought with it charges of genocide and war crimes, and Sudan thus becomes an unlikely choice for the resettlement of displaced Palestinians.
Two Sudanese officials said the talks started prior to Trump’s inauguration, with the U.S. proposing military assistance and reconstruction aid in return for hosting Palestinians. The Sudanese government, however, rejected the proposal outright. “This proposal was dismissed at once,” an official said, adding that it was never brought up again. Sudanese military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan reaffirmed at an Arab summit that his nation “categorically rejects” any scheme to relocate Palestinians from their country.
Outreach to Somalia and Somaliland
The self-declared autonomous region of Somalia, Somaliland, has also been on the list as a resettlement option. Though not internationally recognized, Somaliland has held an independent government, currency, and security apparatus since 1991. Somaliland’s new president, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, focuses on gaining recognition from the international community, and US officials indicated that talks involved possible diplomatic rewards for Somaliland’s cooperation.
A Somaliland government official denied any awareness of such negotiations, while an American official acknowledged the U.S. was looking into “a range of areas where [Somaliland] can be useful to the U.S. in return for recognition.” The United Arab Emirates, a close friend of Israel, has business interests in Somaliland, including a port, and is therefore a strategically valuable location.
Somalia, on the other hand, has a history of firm support for Palestinian self-determination. The nation recently signed up to an Arab summit opposing Trump’s plan, and Somali officials confirmed that they had not been approached for talks. Sambu Chepkorir, a Nairobi-based conflict researcher, was doubtful about Somalia’s readiness to host Palestinians, considering its constant support for their self-rule.
Though the White House insists that Trump “stands by his vision,” the proposal remains under severe legal, diplomatic, and ethical scrutiny.
