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Somalia has once again called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, urging the international community to act quickly to protect civilians as the war continues to devastate the territory.
Foreign Minister Abdisalam Abdi Ali delivered the appeal during an emergency ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah on Tuesday. He strongly condemned what he described as “massacres” against Palestinians and said urgent steps were needed to stop the bloodshed, allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, and protect innocent lives.
The meeting came as the situation in Gaza reached alarming levels. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 75 Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours, including 17 people shot while waiting for food aid. Journalists and medical workers were also among the dead after an Israeli strike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis killed 21 people. The attack was condemned by the European Union, the United Nations, and rights groups, which accused Israel of systematically targeting health workers and the press.
Meanwhile, Israeli forces have advanced deeper into Gaza City, flattening entire neighborhoods and forcing tens of thousands of families to flee on foot with only what they could carry. Aid groups reported that food and supplies remain severely limited, with only 88 trucks entering Gaza each day—about 15 percent of the minimum required to meet basic needs. The Health Ministry said at least 303 people, including 117 children, have died from starvation since October 2023, underscoring the growing risk of famine.
In its final statement, the OIC rejected what it described as Israeli plans to fully occupy Gaza. The bloc called on the international community to pressure Israel into accepting cease-fire proposals and said Tel Aviv bears “full responsibility for the ongoing war and its rejection of peace initiatives.”
Somalia used the meeting to reaffirm its support for a two-state solution, stressing that an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital remains the only just path to peace. Foreign Minister Abdisalam also emphasized Somalia’s commitment to international law and to the unity of Muslim and Arab nations in defending Palestinian rights.
Somalia has consistently voiced support for Palestine and rejected reports linking it to any relocation plans for displaced Gazans. Earlier this year, media reports suggested that the United States and Israel had considered moving Palestinians to Somalia or its federal member states, including Puntland and Somaliland. Puntland officials had even expressed openness to hosting refugees, but Mogadishu quickly dismissed the claims, calling them “rumors.” The government stressed that immigration policy is a matter for the federal government alone, not regional administrations.
The controversy resurfaced in August after the Financial Times revealed that a private consultancy had drawn up secret plans for relocating Palestinians to Somalia and Somaliland on behalf of Israeli businessmen seeking to redevelop Gaza. The company later distanced itself from the project following public backlash, but the episode highlighted why Somali leaders have been quick to reject such proposals.
Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre also reinforced Somalia’s position earlier this year during a summit in Cairo, where Arab leaders launched a $53 billion reconstruction plan for Gaza. He condemned any attempts to force Palestinians out of their homeland, calling it a violation of international law.
The relocation idea, initially floated during Donald Trump’s presidency, has been widely condemned by Arab and international leaders as a form of ethnic cleansing. Somalia has made clear that it will never support or participate in such plans.
Israel’s war in Gaza, which began in October 2023, has so far killed more than 62,700 people, according to Palestinian health officials. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed, famine is spreading, and millions remain trapped in dire conditions.
Somalia’s renewed call at the OIC meeting highlights its determination to stand firmly with the Palestinian people, pushing for an immediate cease-fire, humanitarian relief, and a lasting political solution.