Gazans to give up 'Riviera of Middle East' for South Sudan?

Jay Jackson
13 Aug 2025, 18:57 GMT+10

The Associated Press is reporting that Israel is in talks with South Sudan about relocating much of the Gazan population.
Benjamin Netanyahu: “I think that the right thing to do, even according to the laws of war as I know them, is to allow the population to leave..."
According to one source an Israeli delegation will visit South Sudan shortly to view areas where camps for the Gazans could be established.

TEL AVIV, Israel - The Associated Press is reporting that Israel is in talks with South Sudan about relocating much of the Gazan population to the war-ravaged country.

South Sudan, a close ally of Israel since before it became an independent state in 2011, has been touted for some months as a country willing to take in the Gazans. Other countries that Israel has approached include Sudan and Somalia.

Associated Press reporters Josef Federman in Jerusalem, Matthew Lee in Washington DC, and Samy Magdy in Cairo, said they had been briefed by six people familiar with the talks.

Israel is believed to have offered to erect makeshift tents to house the Gazan population. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stressed that only people who wanted to leave would be encouraged to do so, it is unlikely Gazans would want to move from one war zone to another, both of which are prone to an imminent risk of famine. Nor to go from makeshift tents in a war-zone to makeshift tents in another.

Sudan and Somalia too would unlikely be a fair exchange for the 'Riviera of the Middle East.'

Referring to what he says is U.S, President Donald Trump's plan for "voluntary migration," Mr Netanyahu sees himself as bringing to life Mr Trump's vision.

"I think that the right thing to do, even according to the laws of war as I know them, is to allow the population to leave, and then you go in with all your might against the enemy who remains there," the Israeli prime minister told the local TV and radio network i24, on Tuesday night.

According to one source an Israeli delegation will visit South Sudan shortly to view areas where camps for the Gazans could be established. It is understood Israel is willing to pay for the camps.

It should be noted no official comment has come from Israeli or South Sudanese officials, despite the AP's request for comment.

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