The USA and Israel have made contact with Sudan, Somalia, and the breakaway state of Somaliland in the hope of relocating displaced Palestinians there, reports AP with reference to anonymous officials in both countries.
The American-Israeli overture shows, according to the news agency, that the USA and Israel are serious about Donald Trump's widely criticized post-war plan for the Gaza Strip, which involves the USA taking control of the area and transforming it into the "Riviera of the Middle East".
The plan has been condemned as morally and legally unacceptable from several quarters.
Potential War Crime
Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland are also poor and largely war-torn, which raises further questions about Trump's stated goal of relocating Gaza's population to "a beautiful place".
Israel's Prime Minister Netanyahu has praised Trump's plan. Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as several Arab and Western countries, have rejected the proposal. According to human rights groups, it constitutes a potential war crime to pressure Palestinians in Gaza to leave the strip.
No Comment
Representatives of Sudan tell AP that they have rejected the proposal to accept Gaza's Palestinians, while officials from Somalia and Somaliland say they are unaware of the discussions.
The talks with the East African countries are said to have begun in February. Neither the White House nor Netanyahu's office has wanted to comment on the reports.
Israel's ultranationalist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said earlier in the week, however, that Israel is working to find countries that can accept Palestinians. He also stated that a "very large migration authority" is being prepared within the country's defense department.
