South Sudan denies talks with Israel to take in displaced Palestinians
By Denis Ejulu
The South Sudanese government on Wednesday dismissed media claims that it is in talks with the Israel government to take in displaced Palestinians from Gaza, where the Israel armed forces have been bombarding the enclave since October 2023.
The ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation refuted reports in western media, claiming that South Sudan was in discussion the Israeli government to resettle Palestinians, as part of efforts by Israel to facilitate mass emigration from the war ravaged Gaza Strip.
“The Ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation of the Republic of South Sudan, firmly refutes recent media reports, claiming that the government of the Republic of South Sudan is engaged in discussion with the state of Israel regarding the resettlement of Palestinian nationals from Gaza in South Sudan,” it said in a statement issued in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.
It further noted that these claims are baseless and do not reflect the official position or policy of the government of South Sudan.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have been bombarding the Gaza Strip in a bid to defeat armed Palestinian militants ‘Hamas’, following the attack by the latter on Israeli nationals on October 7,2023.
The Israel government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, recently approved the expansion of the war to Gaza city, leading to wide international condemnations due to the ongoing mass starvation caused by the blockade on humanitarian goods along the Egyptian border.
The conflict in Gaza has already killed more than 60,000 people and injured thousands, according to the Gaza ministry of health.
