The United States and Israel have reportedly approached several East African nations, including Kenya’s neighbours, as part of a controversial plan to resettle Palestinians displaced from Gaza.
According to reporting from the Associated Press, the plan, spearheaded by former US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, seeks to identify potential host countries for Gazans amid ongoing conflict in the region.
According to a report from the Financial Times, Israel is eager to pursue a deal, with one official stating that the Arab state is “in conversations” with countries around the world, including in Africa, about taking in Gazans. However, they cautioned that the talks “are not that advanced at the moment.”
Under the proposed plan championed by Trump, the more than two million residents of Gaza would be permanently relocated to other regions.
The plan envisions the United States assuming control of the Gaza territory, overseeing an extensive cleanup operation, and transforming the area into a large-scale real estate development project.
The proposal has sparked international debate, with critics labelling it as a forced displacement strategy, while proponents argue it offers a humanitarian solution for those affected by the war.
According to reports in the international media, the countries approached included Sudan, Somalia, and the self-declared independent region of Somaliland. Somalia, which shares a border with Kenya and recently joined the EAC, has been particularly of interest to Kenya, especially due to irregular migration patterns.
In a statement to Reuters, a senior US official confirmed that discussions were ongoing but emphasised that no decisions had been made. “We are exploring all options to ensure the safety and well-being of those affected by the conflict in Gaza,” the official said.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu has been vocal about the need for what he calls “a sustainable solution” to the Gaza crisis. Netanyahu has termed the plan made public by Trump last month “revolutionary” and "bold" and has vowed to implement it.
The proposal has drawn mixed reactions from the governments approached. Somalia’s Foreign Ministry issued a cautious response, stating that it would “consider any proposal that aligns with our national interests and humanitarian values.”
Sudan, meanwhile, has remained tight-lipped, with officials declining to comment on the specifics of the discussions.
The US-Israel plan has also drawn comparisons to Britain’s controversial Rwanda deal, which sought to relocate asylum seekers to the East African nation. Critics argue that both plans risk undermining international refugee protections.
The debate over Gazan relocation was a key topic at the February African Union (AU) summit. Several member states expressed strong opposition to the idea, with South Africa leading the charge.
“Africa cannot be a dumping ground for problems created elsewhere. We must resist any form of neo-colonialism,” said a South African delegate during the summit.
