Netanyahu Again Threatens the Displacement of Palestinians.. South Sudan Proposed as a Destination

SadaNews - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel "will allow" residents of the Gaza Strip who wish to flee the ongoing war to leave for abroad, while Israel is in talks to relocate Gaza Palestinians to South Sudan.

Netanyahu stated in an interview with the Israeli "i24" channel that he wants to realize U.S. President Donald Trump's vision of transferring a large portion of Gaza's population through what he termed "voluntary migration."

He added, "I believe that the right thing, even according to the laws of war as I understand them, is to allow the population to leave, and then intervene with all your might against the enemy that remains there."

He clarified, "We give the residents of Gaza the opportunity to leave the combat zones primarily, and leave the territory in general, if they wish to do so," referring in this regard to the evacuations of refugees during wars in Syria, Ukraine, and Afghanistan.

Netanyahu indicated that "Israel is talking to many countries that could be hosts, and all who express concern for the Palestinians and want to help them should open their doors to them."

Previous calls for the expulsion of Gazans outside the territory, including those made by Trump, have raised fears among Palestinians and prompted international condemnations.

Netanyahu had previously stated that his government is working to find third countries to accept residents of the Gaza Strip following Trump's proposal to displace them and develop the area as a tourist destination.

In a related context, Israel is in talks with South Sudan regarding the potential relocation of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to its territory.

Six people familiar with the matter confirmed these talks to the Associated Press, though it remains unclear how far these negotiations have progressed.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment, and the South Sudanese Foreign Minister did not respond to questions regarding these negotiations. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department stated that the department does not comment on private diplomatic talks.

Joe Slavik, the founder of an American lobbying firm working with South Sudan, said that he was informed of these talks by officials in South Sudan, adding that an Israeli delegation plans to visit the country to discuss the possibility of establishing camps for Palestinians there, without specifying a known date for the visit. He noted that Israel may cover the costs of these temporary camps.

Two Egyptian officials told the Associated Press that they have been aware for months of Israel's attempts to find a country to accept Palestinians, including its communication with South Sudan, adding that they pressured South Sudan to refuse to accept them. Egypt strongly opposes any plans to relocate Palestinians outside the Gaza Strip for fear of a refugee influx into its territories.

The Associated Press had previously reported that Israel and the United States held similar talks with Sudan and Somalia, as well as with the separatist region of "Somaliland," but it's unclear what the outcome of those discussions was.