Egypt warns against Israeli forced displacement plans for Palestinians
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The Egyptian Foreign Ministry rejects Israeli schemes as “ethnic cleansing” and warns of a grave regional fallout.
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Forcibly displaced Palestinians gather to collect water from a truck during a heat wave at a makeshift tent camp in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025 (AP)
Egypt condemned reported Israeli talks with foreign governments on the potential “relocation” of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank, denouncing the scheme as a blatant attempt to uproot the Palestinian people from their homeland and erase their national cause.
In a statement on Sunday, the Foreign Ministry said it had contacted the countries mentioned in the reports, which “made it clear they reject such unacceptable schemes.” Cairo underscored that it opposes forced displacement under any guise, whether through outright expulsion or indirect measures such as starvation policies, land seizures, settlement expansion, or making life untenable for Palestinians.
“Egypt will neither accept nor participate in displacement, which represents a historical injustice without ethical or legal justification,” the Ministry declared, warning that such a move would inevitably amount to the liquidation of the Palestinian cause.
The statement urged all states to avoid complicity in what Cairo described as “an immoral crime, a war crime, and an act of ethnic cleansing in blatant violation of the Geneva Conventions.” Any party involved, it added, would bear “historical and legal responsibility” for political consequences with serious regional and international repercussions.
'Israel', South Sudan in talks to take in Gaza-expelled Palestinians
Reports that South Sudan and the Israeli entity are discussing a plan to resettle Palestinians from Gaza in the African nation have triggered strong rejection from Palestinian leaders, who denounced the proposal as an attempt at forced displacement.
Three sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Saturday that discussions between South Sudanese and Israeli officials have taken place, though no agreement has been reached. The talks reportedly followed a visit last month by South Sudan’s foreign minister, Monday Semaya Kumba, to the occupied Palestinian territories.
Their account appeared to contradict South Sudan’s Foreign Ministry, which earlier dismissed reports of such discussions as “baseless”. The Ministry has yet to respond to the latest claims.
Palestinian leadership rejects relocation
News of the potential resettlement deal was first reported by the Associated Press, citing multiple sources.
Palestinian leaders were quick to condemn the idea. Wasel Abu Youssef, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization’s Executive Committee, said, “The Palestinian leadership and people reject any plan or idea to displace any of our people to South Sudan or to any other place.”
His remarks echoed a statement from President Mahmoud Abbas’ office, which warned against any attempt to force Palestinians out of Gaza.
Netanyahu signals intent to push Palestinians out
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly suggested that Palestinians should be expelled from Gaza, while stating his intention to extend Israeli military control over the territory. He has also claimed that “Israel” is in contact with several countries willing to host Palestinians who “voluntarily” depart, without providing specifics.
Arab states and international leaders have consistently opposed any such expulsion plans, warning that they would amount to a new Nakba, a reference to the mass expulsion of Palestinians in 1948.
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, who visited Juba this week, denied that "resettlement" was discussed. She told reporters the meetings with South Sudanese officials focused on “foreign policy, multilateral organizations, the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, and the war,” rather than expulsion plans.
Netanyahu also met with Kumba last month, fueling further speculation. His government has declined to comment on the reported talks. The US State Department, asked about the plan, said it would not comment on “private diplomatic conversations.”
'Israel' looking for destinations for Palestinians
Reports indicate that the Israeli occupation and the United States have approached multiple countries, including Libya, Indonesia, Uganda, Morocco, Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and the breakaway region of Somaliland, as possible destinations for Palestinians expelled from Gaza.
Egypt, which borders the enclave, has repeatedly rejected any such proposals, warning of a potential refugee influx into its territory.
Since October 7, 2023, at least 61,776 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed, and 154,906 others injured in the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, according to the territory’s Health Ministry.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Security Minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The Israeli entity also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its war on the besieged coastal strip.
