US, Israel approach African nations for potential resettlement of Gazans: Report

The United States and Israel reportedly approached several East African territories regarding the possible resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza, according to sources familiar with the discussions speaking to Financial Times (FT).

The initiative, reportedly part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s broader plan for Gaza’s future, has been met with widespread opposition, including from the countries being contacted.

Talks with African nations on relocation efforts

Israeli officials, led by Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, have reached out to Somalia and Sudan, while U.S. diplomats have engaged with Somaliland, an unrecognized breakaway region of Somalia.

One source indicated that Israel is in discussions with multiple countries around the world about accepting Gazans, but added that the talks are still at an early stage.

A U.S. official briefed on Washington’s initial contact with Somaliland stated that discussions included the possibility of U.S. recognition of Somaliland in exchange for allowing a military base near the port of Berbera on the Red Sea coast.

The same source said that relocating refugees from both the U.S. and Gaza was mentioned, but emphasized that it was not the primary focus of the discussions.

Reactions from involved nations

Many Arab states and international powers have strongly condemned the idea of displacing Gaza’s population. Sudan and Somalia, both Arab League members, have explicitly rejected any role in such a plan.

“Gaza belongs to Palestinians, and it will remain for Palestinians. Somalia’s position on this is well recorded,” a Somalian official told the Financial Times.

Similarly, Somaliland’s President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdillahi Irro, in a recent interview, denied any discussions with the U.S. about accepting Gazan refugees. Instead, he called for a regionally backed solution.

Israel’s position on emigration from Gaza

The idea of relocating Gaza’s 2 million residents was first floated by Trump last month as part of his vision for the territory’s future following 17 months of war between Hamas and Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has embraced the concept, calling it “revolutionary” and “bold.” In line with this, Israel’s defense ministry has set up a directorate aimed at facilitating the voluntary emigration of Gazans.

However, no significant steps have been taken so far, as no country has agreed to accept large numbers of people.

Trump administration’s stance

Trump’s position on whether Palestinians would be allowed to return to Gaza has shifted multiple times.

At one point, he shared an AI-generated video on social media depicting Gaza as a luxury tourist hub, complete with casinos and beach resorts.

On March 12, Trump appeared to walk back his earlier comments, stating, “Nobody’s expelling any Palestinians.”

The U.S. State Department declined to comment directly on the reported discussions, but pointed to past remarks by Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who said, “We’re actually engaging in a productive conversation around what is best for Gaza and how we can make people’s lives better.”

Challenges to Trump’s Gaza resettlement plan

Analysts believe the likelihood of large-scale relocation is low, given:

• Global condemnation of forced displacement
• Somalia and Sudan’s rejection of the proposal
• Somaliland’s political risks, as accepting refugees could destabilize the fragile de facto state
• Sudan’s ongoing civil war, which has left its government operating from Port Sudan instead of the capital, Khartoum

One source briefed on U.S. talks with Somaliland emphasized that Washington had not approached Sudan or Somalia, stating, “The U.S. is going to do a total review of our Somalia policy… The notion that they are being talked to about anything important is laughable.”

Current situation in Gaza

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza remains severe. According to local health authorities, nearly 50,000 people have been killed since Israel launched its military offensive in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack. Much of Gaza has been left in ruins.

A six-week cease-fire between Israel and Hamas ended earlier this month, with the U.S. leading mediation efforts to extend the truce and secure the release of 60 remaining Israeli hostages.