The United States and Israel are looking to East Africa to send the expelled Palestinians from Gaza

The United States and Israel has contacted officials of three Eastern African countries to discuss the use of its territory as a potential destination for uprooted Palestinians from the Gaza Strip as part of the post-war plan proposed by Donald Trump, American and Israeli officials told the Associated Press (AP).

Contacts with Sudan, Somalia and Somaliland, a secessionist region of Somalia, reflect the determination of the United States and Israel to advance a plan which has been largely condemned and which has raised serious legal and moral questions. Because these three countries are poor and, in some cases, torn apart by violence, the proposal also casts doubt on Donald Trump’s declared objective to reinstall the Gazaouis in a “Beautiful region”. Sudan representatives said they had rejected offers from the United States, while those of Somalia and Somaliland told AP that they were not aware of any contact.

According to Donald Trump’s plan, the more than 2 million inhabitants of Gaza are definitively sent elsewhere. He proposed that the United States takes possession of the territory, supervise a long cleaning process and develop it as a real estate project. The idea of ​​a massive transfer of Palestinians was once considered a fantasy of the ultra -nationalist fringe of Israel. But, since Mr. Trump presented this idea at a meeting at the White House, in February, the Prime Minister, Benyamin Netanyahu, praised him as a “Bold vision”.

The Gazaouis rejected the proposal and did not take into account the Israeli claims according to which the departures are volunteers. The Arab countries have expressed their opposition to vehement and proposed a reconstruction plan that would leave the Palestinians on the spot. Human rights groups have said that forcing or putting pressure on the Gazanis so that they would leave could be a war crime. Nevertheless, the White House claims that Donald Trump “Getting his vision.”

Financial, diplomatic and security incentives

Speaking under the cover of anonymity, American and Israeli officials confirmed contacts with Somalia and Somaliland, while the Americans also confirmed Sudan, without being able to say if the efforts had progressed or at what level the discussions had taken place. The separate approaches to the United States and Israel with the three potential destinations began in February, a few days after Donald Trump launched the plan for Gaza alongside Benyamin Netanyahu, according to American officials, who declared that Israel took the lead.

Israel and the United States have a whole series of incentives-financial, diplomatic and security-to offer these potential partners. This is a formula that Donald Trump used five years ago when he negotiated the Abraham agreements, a series of mutually beneficial diplomatic agreements between Israel and four Arab countries.

The White House refused to comment on these awareness efforts. The offices of Benyamin Netanyahu and his trusted man, Minister Ron Dermer, who led post-war planning in Israel, did not comment either. But the Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, a long -standing supporter of what he calls the “voluntary” emigration of the Palestinians, said this week that Israel was trying to identify the countries likely to welcome them. He also said that Israel was preparing a “Very large emigration department” within the Ministry of Defense.

Here is a more detailed overview of the countries that have been approached, according to civil servants.

Sudan, a country ravaged by civil war

This country is one of the four signatory countries of the Abraham agreements, which agreed to normalize their diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020. As part of this agreement, the United States withdrew Sudan from its list of states supporting terrorism, which has enabled the country to access international loans and global legitimacy. But relations with Israel have never taken off, Sudan having plunged into a civil war between government forces and the paramilitary group of rapid support forces (FSR).

The conflict was marked by atrocities, including murders and rape with ethnic motivation, according to the United Nations and human rights groups. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is investigating war crimes and alleged humanity crimes, and the administration of President Joe Biden said in January that the FSR and their agents committed a genocide. The United States and Israel would find it difficult to persuade the Palestinians to leave Gaza, especially for a country plagued by such disorders. But they could offer incentives to the government of Khartoum, in particular a reduction in debt, weapons, technologies and diplomatic support.

Two Sudanese officials, speaking under the guise of anonymity, confirmed that the Trump administration had contacted the government led by the army about the reception of the Palestinians. One of them said that the contacts had started even before Donald Trump’s inauguration, with offers of military assistance against the FSR, aid to post-war reconstruction and other incentive measures. “This suggestion was immediately rejected, said one of the officials. No one reopened the file. »»

General Abdel Fattah al-Bourhane, who heads the regular army, said at a summit of Arab leaders in Cairo last week that his country rejected “Categorically any plan aimed at transferring the Palestinian brothers to their land under any justification or name whatsoever”.

Somaliland, a territory in search of recognition

The Somaliland, a territory of more than 3 million inhabitants located in the horn of Africa, separated from Somalia over thirty years ago, but it is not internationally recognized as an independent state. Somalia considers Somaliland as part of its territory. The new president of Somaliland, Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi, made international recognition a priority.

An American official confirmed that the United States had “A discreet conversation with Somaliland about a series of areas in which they can be useful in the United States in exchange for recognition.” The possibility of American recognition could encourage President Abdullahi to return to the solidarity of the territory with the Palestinians. An official from Somaliland, speaking under the guise of anonymity, said that his government had not been approached and that he was not in talks to welcome Palestinians.

The United Arab Emirates, a country signatory to the Abraham agreements and which has developed close ties with Israel, have already had a military base in Somaliland and maintain commercial interests, including a port. The strategic situation of the territory, in the navigable path of the Gulf of Aden, near Yemen, where the Houthist rebels are located, could also make it a precious ally.

Over the years, Somaliland has been rented for its relatively stable political environment, strongly contrasting with the current struggles of Somalia, faced with the murderous attacks of the Chabab, linked to Al-Qaida. Since 1991, Somaliland has retained its own government, currency and safety structures. However, this territory has one of the lowest levels of income in the world.

Somalia, fervent support for Palestinian autonomy

Somalia was a fervent defender of the Palestinians, often organizing peaceful demonstrations in its streets to support them. The country, which participated in the recent Arab summit which rejected Donald Trump’s plan, seems to be an unlikely destination for the Palestinians, even if they agreed to move.

Chepkir Sambu, lawyer and researcher in Nairobi, Kenya, believes that it is difficult to understand why Somalia would like to welcome Palestinians since the country firmly supports Palestinian autonomy. “Realignment continues to change and there may be a hidden agenda”, she suggests.

A Somali official, speaking under the cover of anonymity, said that the country had not been approached to welcome Gazaouis and that there had been no discussions on this subject.