Sudan has turned down a request from the United States to consider accepting Palestinians displaced from Gaza as part of Donald Trump's proposal to transform the area into a Mediterranean resort. Reports indicate that the US and Israel reached out to officials in Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland about resettling Palestinians. This move suggests a push to advance Trump's plan despite significant international criticism and logistical challenges, or perhaps to prompt other regional actors to propose solutions for Gaza once the conflict subsides.
Two Sudanese officials confirmed that the Trump administration had approached their military-led government about the possibility of accepting Palestinians. These discussions reportedly began before Trump took office, with offers of military aid against the Rapid Support Forces and other incentives. However, the Sudanese government rejected the idea outright, with one official stating that the topic was never revisited.
Somalia's foreign minister, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi, did not confirm any requests from the US or Israel but stated that Somalia opposes any plan involving the use of its territory for resettling other populations or undermining Palestinians' rights to their homeland.
Trump's plan involves relocating over 2 million Gaza residents to make way for a luxury international destination, a move experts say would violate international law. Initially, Egypt and Jordan were considered for resettlement, but both countries opposed the plan. Palestinians in Gaza have also rejected the proposal, dismissing claims that the relocation would be voluntary. Arab nations have proposed an alternative reconstruction plan to keep Palestinians in place.
The White House maintains that Trump supports his vision. US and Israeli officials, speaking anonymously, mentioned contacts with Somalia and Somaliland about the plan. However, the progress and level of these discussions remain unclear. Outreach began shortly after Trump announced the plan, with Israel leading the discussions. Israeli officials and the White House have not commented on these efforts.
Sudan, one of the countries that normalized relations with Israel in 2020, is currently embroiled in a civil war with widespread atrocities. US officials, aware of the challenges in relocating Palestinians to Sudan, offered incentives to the Sudanese government, including military support against the RSF, backed by the UAE, a key US ally.
Accepting the proposal would align the US with a side accused of war crimes and place it alongside Russia in the conflict, as Russia considers a US proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Sudan had already expressed its refusal to resettle Palestinians, with its army chief, Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, rejecting any plan to move Palestinians from their homeland.
Somaliland, which declared independence from Somalia over 30 years ago but lacks international recognition, was also approached. An American official confirmed discussions with Somaliland about potential cooperation in exchange for recognition. However, a Somaliland official stated that no talks about accepting Palestinians had occurred. Somalia, a strong supporter of Palestinians and a participant in the Arab summit rejecting Trump's plan, has not been approached about resettling Palestinians. The country has developed strong ties with Arab states and Turkey, though much of it remains under the control of al-Shabaab, an extremist group linked to al-Qaida.