Report: Israel Working With South Sudan To Relocate Gazans
A report by the Associated Press indicates that Israel's efforts to find countries where Gazans can voluntarily relocate have very much not ended, despite President Trump mostly ceasing to speak on the subject.
Sources in South Sudan say that Israel is actively looking to relocate Palestinians interested in leaving the Gaza Strip to that country, under a heavy veil of secrecy, according to a report today (Tuesday) by the Associated Press.
Several months ago, President Trump suggested that much of, if not all of the Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip be relocated to other countries, so they can build better lives in permanent homes elsewhere, away from the almost entirely devastated and war-torn Strip.
Israel has taken this seriously, establishing an administration within the Defense Ministry and covertly negotiating with multiple countries around the world, especially in Africa, with the proviso that the departure of the Gazans needs to be truly voluntary.
Thus far, there have been no takers, officially or unofficially, whether due to heavy international pressure, principled opposition to accepting refugees, or internal troubles.
President Trump has long since ceased to speak much of his relocation plan, but Israel continues to work behind the scenes to see if at least some Gazans can be relocated, and Israeli officials have openly confirmed that this remains a goal of government policy.
One plank of this effort is a reported plan to get the Gazan population to move from Gaza City and even the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone to the south of the Strip, around the city of Rafah, which the IDF strongly controls. Then, those interested in leaving will be allowed to leave.
Egypt, for its part, has strongly resisted any effort to move Gazans out of the Strip, for fear that they will be the first to be swamped by refugees they don't want.
The AP report did not elaborate on how far along talks have gone to try and move Gazans to South Sudan, and Israel is keeping mum.