Israel reportedly in talks with South Sudan to displace Palestinians from Gaza

Israel reportedly in talks with South Sudan to displace Palestinians from Gaza

According to Joe Szlavik, Juba wants Washington to lift its travel ban on South Sudan and remove sanctions against some of its political elites, a sign that the US could be involved in any final arrangement.

Israel is reportedly in talks with South Sudan over a plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza to the East African nation, as part of a broader effort to remove them from the region.

Sources privy to the matter confirmed the development to the Associated Press (AP) but did not reveal specifics, including how long the discussions have been ongoing.

One of the sources, who works for a US lobbying firm in South Sudan, stated that he had been briefed by South Sudanese officials on the discussions.

According to Joe Szlavik, Juba wants Washington to lift its travel ban on South Sudan and remove sanctions against some of its political elites, a sign that the US could be involved in any final arrangement.

The foreign ministries of Israel and South Sudan have not issued statements on the same.

South Sudan has been struggling to recover from a brutal civil war that erupted in 2013, killing hundreds of thousands and leaving parts of the country on the brink of famine.

It already shelters refugees from neighbouring conflicts, adding to concerns about its capacity to take in people from Gaza.

However, any implementation of such a plan would conflict with principles that govern international law, with critics maintaining that the move would almost certainly prevent Palestinians from returning to Gaza and could clear the way for Israel to take full control of the territory, a plan supported by Israel's allies but condemned by the international community.

The United Nations (UN) Charter lays down guidelines that apply to such scenarios.

Article 2(4) of the UN Charter states: "All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations."

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