Friday March 14, 2025
Mogadishu (HOL) — The Somali federal government has categorically rejected reports suggesting that it is in discussions with the United States or Israel regarding the resettlement of displaced Palestinians from Gaza in Somalia or its federal member states.
A senior Somali official speaking to Hiiraan Online refuted claims made in international media, emphasizing that Somalia has neither been approached nor engaged in any talks.
"To my knowledge, there have been no discussions whatsoever regarding the resettlement of Gazan citizens. The United States and Israel have not approached us."
The Somali official's response follows reports in Israeli and British media that suggested Somalia, specifically Puntland in northern Somalia, might be open to voluntarily accepting Gazan refugees. Such claims were further amplified by comments attributed to Puntland's Deputy Minister of Information, Yacob Mohamed Abdalla, though federal authorities maintain that no official policy discussions have taken place.
Legal researcher Abdirahman Keelo dismissed the idea as "crazy thinking and mad logic," emphasizing that Puntland's severe underdevelopment and lack of resources make large-scale resettlement unrealistic.However, the Somali federal government has categorically denied any discussions with the U.S. or Israel regarding Palestinian resettlement, emphasizing that immigration policy falls strictly under federal jurisdiction, not federal member states.
Additionally, the AP has reported that Somali and Somaliland officials stated they were not aware of any contacts regarding resettlement.
Somalia has long maintained a staunchly pro-Palestinian position in international forums, consistently backing Palestinian sovereignty and rejecting external interference in their territorial integrity. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre attended an Extraordinary Arab Summit for Palestine in Cairo, where he reaffirmed Somalia's unequivocal opposition to any plan that would forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza.
At the summit, Arab leaders, including Somalia, endorsed a $53 billion reconstruction plan spearheaded by Egypt to rebuild Gaza's critical infrastructure and ensure that Palestinians remain in their homeland. Barre condemned Israel's actions, calling "forced displacement a violation of international law."
"The Federal Government of Somalia stands firmly with our Palestinian brothers and sisters in their just struggle for sovereignty and self-determination. Any plan that seeks to forcibly remove Palestinians from their land is unacceptable," Barre stated during the summit.
The Associated Press reported on Friday that the U.S. and Israel had reached out to Sudan, Somalia, and Somaliland as potential destinations for Palestinian resettlement. Officials from Sudan reportedly also rejected the requests from the U.S.
Washington's proposal, backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has drawn global condemnation, with Arab nations rejecting the plan "warning against the mass transfer of Palestinians—an action widely seen as a form of ethnic cleansing.