NYT: Israel Offered Incentives to South Sudan to Relocate Gaza Residents

The New York Times reports on discussions between Israel and South Sudan regarding the relocation of Gaza residents.

The newspaper states that Israeli officials have been discussing plans over several months concerning the population of Gaza, including a potential transfer of residents to South Sudan, a country suffering from war and famine crises, as part of a broader approach related to migration from the Gaza Strip.

It clarifies that Israel, having failed to find countries willing to host large numbers of Gaza residents amid ongoing conflict for nearly two years, has engaged in talks with South Sudan about the possibility of hosting them, according to officials and sources familiar with the discussions.

The report indicates that observers and critics view Israel’s efforts to force Palestinians to leave their homeland as a form of ethnic cleansing and a war crime. They note that Israel’s renewed efforts to re-occupy Gaza and rebuild settlements imply a permanent displacement or relocation of Palestinians to elsewhere outside their homeland.

Israeli officials have called the displacement of Palestinians a mere “voluntary migration”. Last week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied that Israel intends to “expel” Gaza residents, though he did not specify whether those leaving will be allowed to return to their homeland.

South Sudanese officials have denied any negotiations on this matter, but several high-ranking figures privately acknowledged discussing the controversial possibility with Israeli officials. These disclosures come from three regional officials and a South Sudanese source familiar with the talks, as well as a lobbying group attempting to persuade the South Sudan government to accept Palestinians.

Five sources, four of whom requested anonymity, reported that talks between Israel and South Sudan have not made progress. Nonetheless, both sides see potential benefits—Israel aims to force as many Palestinians as possible out of Gaza, while South Sudan hopes to gain favor with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The U.S. initially proposed evacuating Gaza’s over two million residents but withdrew the idea after it was rejected by allies in Egypt and Jordan. While Netanyahu has been cautious in his statements, his far-right allies, supporting Israel’s ongoing occupation in Gaza, have endorsed the idea of relocating Palestinians.

Notably, in May, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich expressed hope of relocating Gaza residents “to a third country”. Last month, he stated that Gaza is “an inseparable part of the land of Israel”. Additionally, Gila Gamliel, a minister in the security cabinet, said in a televised interview that around 1.7 million Palestinians should leave Gaza, a stance that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office quickly distanced itself from.

Gazan residents currently have nowhere to go. Although Egypt initially allowed thousands of Gazans to enter during the early months of the conflict, it no longer accepts new arrivals. Other countries mainly focus on evacuating small numbers of those needing medical treatment.

Human rights organizations say that Israel’s characterization of this forced migration as “voluntary” is false. Omar Shaker, director of the Israel and Palestine office at Human Rights Watch, stated, “There is nothing voluntary when Gaza is made uninhabitable through the destruction of essential civil infrastructure. Forcing people to flee is not voluntary.”

South Sudan benefits from this cooperation by assisting Israel in pressuring the Trump administration to lift visa restrictions on its citizens, and also seeks relief from sanctions imposed on prominent Vice President Benjamin Paul Mil, considered a future leader of the country, according to the report.

In April, U.S. President Donald Trump revoked all visas for South Sudanese nationals after accusing the country of delays in repatriating its citizens. In July, South Sudan agreed to accept eight refugees deported from the U.S., only one of whom was actually from South Sudan.

The report warns that a large influx of Gaza residents would significantly impact South Sudan, which is already facing increased political instability and worsening humanitarian crises.

Joseph Szlavik, founder of a lobbying firm working with the South Sudan government, said he discussed the issue with officials from the country and revealed that talks between Israel and South Sudan began earlier this year.

The Associated Press first uncovered these discussions, noting that South Sudan is considering the proposal but is concerned about the financial burden of hosting large numbers of Palestinian refugees. Szlavik was quoted saying, “South Sudanese are wondering who will bear the costs.”

On Monday, South Sudan’s foreign minister, Samaya K. Kumba, spoke with Israeli officials about the matter, according to sources in the Middle East and South Sudan. The South Sudanese government’s spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment. South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied any negotiations with Israel, calling the reports “baseless.”

The article concludes that these reports have sparked anger in South Sudan, with the head of the parliament’s foreign affairs committee stating he will summon Minister Mindiay Samaya Kumba to demand explanations.