By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The U.S. and Israel have opened discussions with officials from three East African countries regarding the possibility of resettling displaced Palestinians from Gaza in their territories, an Associated Press report said on Friday, citing U.S. and Israeli officials.
Officials from Sudan, Somalia, and the breakaway region of Somaliland have been approached regarding the proposal, the AP report stated.
While Sudanese officials said they rejected the proposal from the U.S., Somali and Somaliland officials stated they were unaware of any such contacts, according to AP.
United Nations experts reported on Thursday that Israel had committed ‘genocidal acts’ against Palestinians by destroying women’s healthcare facilities and using sexual violence as a war strategy during the conflict in Gaza since 2023.
A Reuters report stated that the information ministers for Somalia and its breakaway region of Somaliland did not respond to telephone calls requesting comment on the matter.
Arab leaders have rejected plans to relocate displaced Gazans from their ancestral homes in favour of a construction project that former U.S. President Donald Trump called the “Riviera of the Middle East” in Palestinian territory.
Instead, Arab leaders have adopted a $53 billion Egyptian reconstruction plan for Gaza that aims to rebuild the enclave without displacing its residents.
The 17-month assault by the Israeli military in Gaza has killed tens of thousands of people, following the October 7, 2023, invasion of Israeli territory by Hamas militants.
Trump, a real estate tycoon, has suggested reconstructing the destroyed enclave but with Palestinians permanently displaced to Egypt and other African countries.
His plan reinforced long-standing Palestinian fears of being permanently driven from their homes and was met with widespread international rejection.
