South Sudan has firmly denied reports that it is in talks with Israel to resettle Palestinians from Gaza, calling the claims “baseless” and inconsistent with its official policy. The statement from South Sudan’s foreign ministry came in response to a report citing unnamed sources who alleged that discussions were underway between Israel and Juba regarding the relocation of Palestinians from the war-torn enclave.
The denial follows growing international concern over Israel’s military actions in Gaza, where recent airstrikes have devastated Gaza City ahead of a planned takeover. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated his stance that Palestinians should leave Gaza a position previously echoed by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Many global leaders have condemned the idea, warning that forced displacement would echo the 1948 Nakba, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were expelled or fled during the Arab-Israeli war.
South Sudan’s Foreign Minister Monday Semaya Kumba did visit Israel last month and met with Netanyahu, but officials in Juba insist that no discussions about resettling Palestinians took place. Similar denials have also come from Somalia and Somaliland, both of which rejected any suggestion of accepting Palestinian refugees.
Meanwhile, South Sudan continues to grapple with internal challenges. The government recently confirmed that eight migrants deported from the U.S. are now under its care, following a failed legal attempt to block their transfer. Since gaining independence in 2011, the country has endured years of conflict and is currently facing a renewed political crisis after President Salva Kiir ordered the arrest of Vice President Riek Machar in March.
