The White House is reportedly developing plans to relocate Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip to territories in Somaliland, Puntland, and Morocco, Israeli Channel 12 said.
These plans, following remarks by US President Donald Trump, are said to involve a US-backed reconstruction of Gaza rather than annexation of territories.
Somaliland and Puntland are territories within Somalia that lack international recognition as independent states. They, along with Morocco, reportedly share a strong political need for US support. Somaliland and Puntland seek recognition, while Morocco faces the ongoing territorial dispute over Western Sahara. All three regions have Sunni Muslim majorities.
The plan, referred to in Israel as a “slum clearance” project, focuses on US-led Gaza reconstruction, not territorial annexation, the Channel 12 report indicated.
The idea reportedly arose during a meeting between Trump and his advisors before a meeting with the Israeli prime minister. Israeli officials were subsequently briefed on Trump’s intentions by advisors Steve Weitzkopf and Michael Waltz during preliminary meetings.
While some Israeli officials have expressed optimism, there is also confusion regarding the potential impact on negotiations for the return of captives.
A source within the Israeli prime minister’s delegation told Channel 12, “Trump’s remarks introduce a psychological element to the negotiations that wasn’t there before. It’s a ‘hold me back’ situation with uncertain prospects, but it will at least accelerate negotiations to extend the first phase of the deal, release more captives, and continue the ceasefire.”
The source also expressed concern about Hamas’ potential reaction: “No one can know if this will lead Hamas to a ‘let my soul die with the Philistines’ mentality, and a refusal to move forward with the deal, essentially requiring them to agree to their own downfall and removal from the equation.”
Trump’s statements have reportedly caused significant anxiety among families of the captives, who worry about the Gaza deal’s fate. A source close to Trump has conveyed a reassuring message to these families, reaffirming the president’s commitment to securing the release of the captives.
