Israel Explores Relocation of Gazans to South Sudan

While South Sudanese officials formally refuted the reports, describing them as baseless, six sources—including civil society leaders and lobbyists—confirmed that the government had been briefed on the potential transfer. The visit of Israel's deputy foreign minister, Sharren Haskel, to the country this week has further fueled concerns that the plan is moving forward despite the severe humanitarian crises already gripping the African nation. South Sudan currently faces acute food insecurity affecting over 7.7 million people and hosts one of the world's largest displaced populations.

Israeli officials have also approached Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland, all regions characterized by chronic instability and conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has publicly framed these efforts as facilitating "voluntary migration," a characterization rejected by human rights groups and international legal experts. Organizations such as Amnesty International and Gisha argue that creating conditions so intolerable that departure becomes the only survival strategy constitutes forcible transfer. Such actions are classified as war crimes under international law, as they involve the systematic displacement of civilians under the guise of choice.