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Officials from Somalia and Somaliland reject claims of discussions on relocating Palestinians from Gaza, reaffirming support for Palestinian sovereignty and opposing any forced displacement
Somalia and its self-declared independent region of Somaliland have denied receiving any proposal from the United States or Israel to resettle Palestinians from Gaza. Somalia’s government also stated it would categorically reject any such move.
According to a report from the Associated Press, U.S. and Israeli officials had allegedly approached Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland to explore the possibility of using their territories for the resettlement of Palestinians from the war-torn Gaza Strip. However, officials from these countries have either denied any contact on the matter or outright rejected such a plan.
Somalia’s Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi emphasized that his country would firmly oppose any proposal that could compromise the Palestinian people’s right to remain in their homeland. He clarified that Mogadishu had not received any formal request or proposal but stressed that Somalia would not permit the use of its territory for the resettlement of other populations.
Similarly, Abdirahman Dahir Adan, the foreign minister of Somaliland, stated there had been no discussions with any party regarding the relocation of Palestinians. Unlike Somalia, which has been engaged in a long-running battle against Islamist insurgents for over 17 years, Somaliland has remained relatively peaceful since declaring independence in 1991. However, Somaliland’s quest for international recognition remains unfulfilled, and it has expressed hope that U.S. President Donald Trump might be sympathetic to its aspirations.
The issue of Somaliland’s recognition remains a contentious one, as Somalia maintains that its sovereignty and territorial integrity are non-negotiable. Mogadishu continues to assert that Somaliland is an integral part of the country and has opposed any moves to recognize it as an independent state.
Sudan, which is currently grappling with an ongoing civil war, also denied receiving any such proposal. A senior Sudanese government official confirmed that the country had not been approached on the matter and reiterated that any such plan would be unacceptable to Sudan’s leadership.
Meanwhile, efforts to reconstruct Gaza are underway, with Arab leaders backing a $53 billion Egyptian-led reconstruction initiative. This plan aims to rehabilitate Gaza without displacing its residents. The initiative stands in stark contrast to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial idea of transforming Gaza into a “Middle East Riviera,” which was widely condemned. Trump had also previously suggested that Palestinians should be permanently relocated, a proposal that has only fueled long-standing fears of forced displacement.
The suggestion of resettling Palestinians outside Gaza has been met with strong opposition from both Palestinian leaders and the international community. Michele Zaccheo, a spokesperson for the United Nations in Geneva, reaffirmed that any plan involving the forced displacement of people would be in violation of international law. He stressed that such actions would be unacceptable under global humanitarian standards.
Taher Al-Nono, a political adviser to the Palestinian militant group Hamas, dismissed the notion of resettling Palestinians from Gaza to Africa as “silly.” He reiterated that Palestinians and Arab leaders have unanimously rejected the idea, asserting that Palestinians will remain on their land despite external pressures.
While some Israeli ministers have expressed interest in facilitating voluntary departures from Gaza, they maintain that they are not considering any form of forced expulsion. Nevertheless, the broader discourse surrounding the future of Palestinians in Gaza remains highly contentious, with international actors divided on the best course of action.
The White House and the U.S. State Department have yet to issue an official response to the reports. As the situation in Gaza continues to unfold, the debate over resettlement and reconstruction remains a significant focal point in Middle Eastern geopolitics. The resistance from Somalia, Somaliland, and Sudan underscores the complexity of the issue and the broader implications of any potential displacement of Palestinians from their homeland.