Latest news with #SemayaKumba
News18
11 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Israel Discussing Relocation Of Palestinians From War-Torn Gaza To South Sudan: Report
Last Updated: According to three anonymous sources, no agreement has been reached yet, but discussions are underway, Reuters reported Israel and South Sudan are reportedly in early talks regarding the possible relocation of Palestinians from war‑ravaged Gaza to South Sudan, Reuters reported on Friday. According to three anonymous sources, no agreement has been reached yet, but discussions are underway. The sources, who spoke anonymously, said the plan involves moving people from Gaza, which has been devastated by nearly two years of conflict with Israel, to South Sudan, a country long plagued by political and ethnic violence. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently indicated his intention to extend military control over Gaza. This week, he also suggested that Palestinians should consider leaving the territory voluntarily. The idea of relocating Gaza's population has been strongly rejected by Palestinian leaders and many world figures. Palestinians view such a move as another 'Nakba" (catastrophe), similar to the mass displacement during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. The relocation proposal was reportedly raised during talks between Israeli officials and South Sudan's Foreign Minister, Monday Semaya Kumba, who visited Israel last month. However, South Sudan's foreign ministry dismissed the reports as 'baseless" earlier this week. 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." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's office released a similar statement on Thursday. Hamas, the group currently fighting Israel in Gaza, has not responded to requests for comment. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, who recently visited South Sudan's capital Juba, told Reuters that relocation was not the focus of discussions. She said talks centred on foreign policy, multilateral organisations, the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, and the ongoing war. Netanyahu, who met with Kumba last month, has said Israel is in contact with several countries to find a place for Palestinians wishing to leave Gaza but has provided no further details. (With inputs from Reuters) view comments Location : Sudan First Published: August 15, 2025, 23:18 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
South Sudan hosts Israeli deputy FM but denies Gaza relocation reports
JUBA: South Sudan on Wednesday said that Israel's deputy foreign minister had visited for talks, after reports of plans to relocate Palestinians from the war-torn Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he would permit Palestinians from Gaza to emigrate voluntarily and that his government was talking to a number of potential host countries. South Sudan, which is said to be one of the host countries, announced that Sharren Haskel had visited, in what it called 'the highest-level engagement from an Israeli official to South Sudan thus far.' According to a statement, Foreign Minister Semaya Kumba held 'a fruitful bilateral dialogue' with Haskel that touched on 'the evolving circumstances within the State of Israel,' without elaborating. 'Both parties expressed a resolute commitment to advancing stronger bilateral and multilateral cooperation moving forward,' it added. A previous statement from the government in Juba refuted media reports that it was in discussion with Israel about relocating Palestinians from Gaza to South Sudan, calling the claims 'baseless.' The potential arrival of Palestinians from Gaza in South Sudan has sparked intense controversy both on social media and on the streets of the capital. 'We don't accept this because these are criminals they are bringing to us. Also we don't have land that can accommodate the Palestinians from Gaza to South Sudan,' Juba resident James Lomederi told AFP. Another local, who asked not to be identified, said: 'We will welcome them with open arms. Our borders need heavy deployment of troops, and they will help us fight anyone who wants to annex our land into their territory.' Impoverished South Sudan has been plagued by insecurity and instability since its independence in 2011. This year, the country saw months of clashes between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those backing First Vice President Riek Machar. The arrest of Machar in March fueled fears of a return to civil war, nearly seven years after the end of bloody fighting between supporters of the two men that led to around 400,000 deaths between 2013 and 2018.
Arab News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Arab News
S.Sudan hosts Israeli deputy FM but denies Gaza relocation reports
JUBA: South Sudan on Wednesday said that Israel's deputy foreign minister had visited for talks, after reports of plans to relocate Palestinians from the war-torn Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he would permit Palestinians from Gaza to emigrate voluntarily and that his government was talking to a number of potential host countries. South Sudan, which is said to be one of the host countries, announced that Sharren Haskel had visited, in what it called 'the highest-level engagement from an Israeli official to South Sudan thus far.' According to a statement, Foreign Minister Semaya Kumba held 'a fruitful bilateral dialogue' with Haskel that touched on 'the evolving circumstances within the State of Israel,' without elaborating. 'Both parties expressed a resolute commitment to advancing stronger bilateral and multilateral cooperation moving forward,' it added. A previous statement from the government in Juba refuted media reports that it was in discussion with Israel about relocating Palestinians from Gaza to South Sudan, calling the claims 'baseless.' The potential arrival of Palestinians from Gaza in South Sudan has sparked intense controversy both on social media and on the streets of the capital. 'We don't accept this because these are criminals they are bringing to us. Also we don't have land that can accommodate the Palestinians from Gaza to South Sudan,' Juba resident James Lomederi told AFP. Another local, who asked not to be identified, said: 'We will welcome them with open arms. Our borders need heavy deployment of troops, and they will help us fight anyone who wants to annex our land into their territory.' Impoverished South Sudan has been plagued by insecurity and instability since its independence in 2011. This year, the country saw months of clashes between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and those backing First Vice President Riek Machar. The arrest of Machar in March fueled fears of a return to civil war, nearly seven years after the end of bloody fighting between supporters of the two men that led to around 400,000 deaths between 2013 and 2018.
