Sudan Rejects US Proposal to Resettle Displaced Palestinians from Gaza
Sudanese officials confirm rejection of US request for resettlement discussions amid international controversy.
Sudanese officials have confirmed that the government has turned down a request from the United States to discuss the possibility of accepting Palestinians displaced from Gaza as part of a plan proposed by then-President Donald Trump.
This plan, which aimed to transform Gaza into a high-end leisure and business destination, has faced widespread criticism and logistical challenges from various international actors.
The overtures from the US and Israel included proposals to Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland regarding the resettlement of uprooted Palestinians.
Reports indicate that this communication originated in advance of Trump's inauguration, with offers of military assistance to Sudan's military-led government in its ongoing conflict against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), along with incentives for postwar reconstruction.
Sudan's officials reported that these suggestions were immediately dismissed.
One official stated that the discussion on resettling Palestinians was not revisited after the initial rejection.
Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, Somalia’s foreign minister, while not confirming any requests from the US or Israel, stated that Somalia would oppose any plan that implicated its territory in the resettlement of displaced populations or undermined the rights of the Palestinian people.
Under Trump's proposal, over two million residents of Gaza would be permanently displaced, a move that numerous legal experts argue is in violation of international law.
Initial suggestions for the resettlement of Palestinians included Egypt and Jordan, both of which categorically opposed the initiative.
The Palestinian population in Gaza has also rejected the proposal, downplaying claims of voluntary resettlement made by Israeli officials.
Instead, Arab nations have offered alternative reconstruction plans aimed at keeping Palestinians in their historical lands.
The White House has reaffirmed Trump's commitment to the plan, which Israeli officials have branded a “bold vision.” However, both the US and Israeli governments have refrained from discussing the specific outreach efforts made to potential host nations.
Additionally, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly supported Trump’s proposal, while Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s finance minister, has asserted that Israel is working toward identifying nations willing to accept Palestinian refugees.
Expert legal opinions have highlighted the potential illegality of the proposed emigration amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, noting that such actions could amount to war crimes.
Sudan, which normalized relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords in 2020, has since been engulfed in a civil war characterized by significant humanitarian concerns, including accusations of ethnic violence and atrocities.
Amid this backdrop, the Sudanese government has firmly communicated its intent not to engage in any resettlement initiatives, with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan’s army, recently asserting the country’s categorical rejection of transferring Palestinians from their land for any reason.
Sudan’s humanitarian situation remains dire, further complicating any potential discussions regarding the resettlement of displaced populations.
Somaliland, self-declared as independent but lacking international recognition, is also reported to have been approached regarding the resettlement plan.
An American official confirmed that the US is currently in dialogue with Somaliland, focusing on mutual assistance and potential recognition.
However, an official from Somaliland asserted that there has been no communication regarding discussions on Palestinian resettlement.
Conversely, Somalia has been a vocal advocate for the Palestinian cause, having participated in recent Arab summits that denounced the Trump plan.
Somali officials have echoed that there have been no conversations regarding the resettlement of displaced Palestinians, reinforcing the country’s strong diplomatic ties to the Arab world and opposition to the proposal.
In Somalia, governance remains challenged by the presence of al-Shabaab militants, an extremist faction linked to al-Qaida, further complicating the nation’s humanitarian and security landscape.
This plan, which aimed to transform Gaza into a high-end leisure and business destination, has faced widespread criticism and logistical challenges from various international actors.
The overtures from the US and Israel included proposals to Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland regarding the resettlement of uprooted Palestinians.
Reports indicate that this communication originated in advance of Trump's inauguration, with offers of military assistance to Sudan's military-led government in its ongoing conflict against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), along with incentives for postwar reconstruction.
Sudan's officials reported that these suggestions were immediately dismissed.
One official stated that the discussion on resettling Palestinians was not revisited after the initial rejection.
Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, Somalia’s foreign minister, while not confirming any requests from the US or Israel, stated that Somalia would oppose any plan that implicated its territory in the resettlement of displaced populations or undermined the rights of the Palestinian people.
Under Trump's proposal, over two million residents of Gaza would be permanently displaced, a move that numerous legal experts argue is in violation of international law.
Initial suggestions for the resettlement of Palestinians included Egypt and Jordan, both of which categorically opposed the initiative.
The Palestinian population in Gaza has also rejected the proposal, downplaying claims of voluntary resettlement made by Israeli officials.
Instead, Arab nations have offered alternative reconstruction plans aimed at keeping Palestinians in their historical lands.
The White House has reaffirmed Trump's commitment to the plan, which Israeli officials have branded a “bold vision.” However, both the US and Israeli governments have refrained from discussing the specific outreach efforts made to potential host nations.
Additionally, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly supported Trump’s proposal, while Bezalel Smotrich, Israel’s finance minister, has asserted that Israel is working toward identifying nations willing to accept Palestinian refugees.
Expert legal opinions have highlighted the potential illegality of the proposed emigration amid the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, noting that such actions could amount to war crimes.
Sudan, which normalized relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords in 2020, has since been engulfed in a civil war characterized by significant humanitarian concerns, including accusations of ethnic violence and atrocities.
Amid this backdrop, the Sudanese government has firmly communicated its intent not to engage in any resettlement initiatives, with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan’s army, recently asserting the country’s categorical rejection of transferring Palestinians from their land for any reason.
Sudan’s humanitarian situation remains dire, further complicating any potential discussions regarding the resettlement of displaced populations.
Somaliland, self-declared as independent but lacking international recognition, is also reported to have been approached regarding the resettlement plan.
An American official confirmed that the US is currently in dialogue with Somaliland, focusing on mutual assistance and potential recognition.
However, an official from Somaliland asserted that there has been no communication regarding discussions on Palestinian resettlement.
Conversely, Somalia has been a vocal advocate for the Palestinian cause, having participated in recent Arab summits that denounced the Trump plan.
Somali officials have echoed that there have been no conversations regarding the resettlement of displaced Palestinians, reinforcing the country’s strong diplomatic ties to the Arab world and opposition to the proposal.
In Somalia, governance remains challenged by the presence of al-Shabaab militants, an extremist faction linked to al-Qaida, further complicating the nation’s humanitarian and security landscape.
