Gazan refugees could be resettled in South Sudan – Report

A new report says Israeli officials are exploring African relocation options for Gazans, with a delegation set to tour South Sudan soon.

By World Israel News Staff

Israel is in negotiations with the government of South Sudan on an initiative that would see Gazan refugees resettled in the African country, according to an Associated Press report.

Jerusalem has long expressed interest in facilitating the voluntary migration of Gazans from the embattled coastal enclave, with small numbers reportedly already moving to Indonesia and a handful of other Islamic countries.

According to the AP, Israeli officials are deep in talks with their South Sudanese counterparts about options for relocating Gazans there.

“I think that the right thing to do, even according to the laws of war as I know them, is to allow the population to leave, and then you go in with all your might against the enemy who remains there,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview with Hebrew-language outlet i24 on Tuesday.

Joe Szlavik, founder of a U.S. lobbying firm that is working to improve South Sudan’s relations with the Trump administration, told the AP that South Sudanese officials had confirmed the existence of the talks.

He added that an Israeli delegation is expected to tour South Sudan in the near future, and that Israel is interested in establishing temporary housing camps for Gazans, which the Jewish State would fund.

According to Peter Martell, a journalist who authored a book on South Sudan, the East African country may be open to the plan as a way to generate much-needed revenue.

“Cash-strapped South Sudan needs any ally, financial gain and diplomatic security it can get,” Martell told the AP.

The Egyptian government is reportedly vehemently opposed to the plan, as it would likely require Cairo to open its border with Gaza to enable the outflow of refugees.

Egypt has repeatedly warned that it fears an influx of Gazan refugees, and has even fortified areas of the Sinai Desert near the Gaza border to prevent Gazans fleeing the war from reaching other parts of Egypt.

Israel did not comment to the AP on the accuracy of the report.