Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says meetings with several countries are ongoing on the robbery of Palestinians who have been driven out of the war in Gaza.
The countries involved are South Sudan, Somaliland, Ethiopia, Libya and Indonesia, a senior Israeli official told CNN. In exchange for incorporating a portion of Gaza’s population of over 2 million, authorities said the country is looking for “significant financial and international rewards.”
On Wednesday, South Sudan rejected an Associated Press report that it was discussing Palestinian resettlement, saying in a statement the report was “basically unfounded and does not reflect an official position.” Earlier this year, Somaliland said there would be no such talks.
And last week, Indonesia said it was ready to bring 2,000 Palestinians from Gaza for treatment, but would return to Gaza once it recovered.
It is unclear how much progress has progressed in any of these arguments and whether they could be realized.
Netanyahu has never given a detailed vision of what will happen in Gaza after the war, but has repeatedly advocated resettlement of Palestinians who have been displaced in other countries, especially after President Donald Trump came up with the idea earlier this year. But even if Trump appears to be chilling the proposal, Israeli officials are accepting it.
In an interview released Tuesday, Netanyahu said, “We’re talking to several countries.”
In an interview with Israel Network I24, Netanyahu claimed that the plan would “not push out” Palestinians, but instead “allow them to leave.”
“Everyone who is interested in Palestinians and says they want to help Palestinians,” Netanyahu said, “We should open their doors.”
“Why are they coming to us and preaching?! Open your door,” he added.
The comment is growing over Israel’s stated plan to take over Gaza, home to more than a million Palestinians, including many already displaced by the war.
According to a tally from the Gaza Ministry of Health in Hamaslan on Wednesday, the densely populated cities continue to suffer Israeli strikes, with at least 123 people dead in the past 24 hours across Gaza.
Meanwhile, more than 100 humanitarian groups have called on Israel to end what is called weaponization of aid in Gaza, saying no significant relief is permitted while the territory is held by starvation.
Shaina Law, correspondent adviser to the Norwegian Refugee Council, said plans to relocate Palestinians were “non-starters” regardless of whether they are within Gaza or abroad.
“They are not accepted under international law. They are not accepted by the Palestinians, and they should not be accepted by the international community,” Law told CNN.
In an interview, Netanyahu was asked by I24News network anchor Sharon Gal if the Prime Minister was “connected” to the vision of “great Israel.”
The term “great Israel” refers to the state of Israel that transcends borders that exist today. It is also often used as a biblical reference to Israel, including parts of Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon today.
The comments were greeted by incisive statements from several Arab countries, and accused the use of the term of peace-provoking and counterproductive.
Egypt “requested a “explanation” for the use of the term given its meaning that it caused instability and reflects claims to escalate and escalate the pursuit of peace in the region.”
Saudi Arabia said it “expresses a complete rejection of the reconciliation and expansionist scheme adopted by Israeli occupation authorities.”
Qatar said the use of the term is considered “an arrogance, an extension of the occupational approach based on promoting crisis and conflict, and a blatant violation of state sovereignty.”
The conversation between Gal and Netanyahu about “Great Israel” was not featured in the full interview on the official channel, but a longer version containing Netanyahu’s comments was posted to X on Gal’s account.
