NAIROBI: South Sudan is not engaged in any discussions with Israel regarding the resettlement of Palestinians from war-hit Gaza, the country’s foreign ministry clarified on Wednesday.
The Associated Press, citing six people with knowledge of the matter, had reported that Israel was holding talks with Juba to resettle Palestinians from Gaza in the East African nation.
“These claims are baseless and do not reflect the official position or policy of the Government of the Republic of South Sudan,” South Sudan’s foreign affairs ministry said in a statement.
On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated a controversial stance, suggesting that Palestinians should leave Gaza altogether.
The proposal has drawn widespread condemnation from global leaders, with many expressing alarm at the idea of forcibly displacing Gaza’s population.
Palestinian officials have likened the notion to a second “Nakba” — the mass displacement that occurred during the 1948 war, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were expelled from their homes.
In March, both Somalia and its breakaway region of Somaliland dismissed receiving any such proposal from Israel or the United States to resettle Palestinians from Gaza.
Somalia’s government strongly rejected the idea, adding that it would not support or accept any such plan.
Meanwhile, the Israeli military pounded Gaza City on Wednesday ahead of a planned takeover, killing another 123 people, including 21 aid-seekers, in the past 24 hours, as the war death toll reached 61,722, according to the territory’s health ministry.
Hamas, meanwhile, held further talks with Egyptian mediators.
Israel’s offensive on Gaza has killed a total of 61,722 Palestinians and injured 154,525 since October 7, 2023, the health ministry said.
The health ministry added that 1,859 aid-seekers have been killed and more than 13,594 injured since 27 May, when Israel introduced a new aid distribution mechanism through the US-based GHF.
