Sudan and Somalia Reject U.S. Proposal for Palestinian Resettlement Under Trump’s Plan
Sudan and Somalia have rejected U.S. requests to consider resettling Palestinians from Gaza under Trump’s plan. Sudanese officials stated that the concept of resettlement was dismissed outright. Somalia’s Foreign Minister supported Palestinian rights, voicing opposition to any plan undermining their ancestral claim to the land. The plan has attracted global criticism for its legality and implications for humanitarian crises in the region.
Sudanese officials have formally rejected a request from the United States to discuss the resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza under former President Donald Trump’s plan, which aims to transform the territory into a Mediterranean resort. Officials from war-ridden Sudan confirmed this decision to the Associated Press, emphasizing that they were approached about the plan even prior to Trump taking office, with offers of military aid and post-war reconstruction incentives serving as incentives. Nevertheless, Sudan decisively dismissed such proposals, stressing that the matter was not revisited thereafter.
Similar concerns emerged from Somalia, whose Foreign Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi has not confirmed nor denied the existence of any requests for Palestinian resettlement. Nevertheless, he firmly stated that Somalia disapproves of any initiatives that may jeopardize the rights of the Palestinian people to reside peacefully on their ancestral land. Trump’s plan, which involves displacing over 2 million residents of Gaza to enable significant rehabilitation as a luxury destination, has raised serious legal questions, as forced resettlement is considered illegal under international law.
Both Egypt and Jordan initially emerged as potential resettlement countries but actively opposed Trump’s proposal. Palestinian residents have also rejected the notion that any relocations would be voluntary, while Arab nations continue to propose a multibillion-dollar reconstruction alternative that would allow Palestinians to remain on their land. The White House maintains that Trump supports his vision for Gaza.
Discussions described to the Associated Press indicate that the U.S. and Israel engaged with Somalia and the separatist region of Somaliland to explore potential resettlement options. Israeli and U.S. officials, however, have provided no comment on the status of these discussions, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump’s proposal as a significant vision. Far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has echoed this sentiment, indicating that efforts to identify countries willing to accept Palestinians are underway.
International legal experts warn that such attempts to facilitate emigration from Gaza might constitute a war crime, given the prevailing humanitarian crisis. Although Sudan agreed to normalize relations with Israel as part of the Abraham Accords in 2020, ongoing civil strife has created severe humanitarian challenges within the country. Sudan’s military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, recently reiterated at a Cairo summit that his country utterly rejects any attempts to displace Palestinians.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia over three decades ago but lacks international recognition, has not engaged in discussions regarding the acceptance of Palestinian citizens either. An American official noted that quiet negotiations regarding recognition are ongoing. Similarly, Somali officials assert that their nation staunchly supports Palestinian rights and that there has been no discussion on facilitating the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza, given its historical and ideological solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
In summary, Sudan and Somalia have unequivocally rejected U.S. overtures to discuss the resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza as part of Trump’s controversial plan. Both nations have expressed strong opposition to any schemes that would undermine Palestinian rights, asserting their commitment to the Palestinian cause amid a severe humanitarian crisis. International legal experts have raised valid concerns regarding the legality of potential forced resettlements. Overall, the situation remains delicate, with ongoing discussions reflecting broader regional tensions regarding Palestinian displacement.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
