South Sudan denies report of talks with Israel on Gaza resettlement

August 13, 2025 (JUBA) – South Sudan’s government on Wednesday denied a media report that it was in talks with Israel to resettle Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, calling the claim “baseless.”

The denial was a response to an Associated Press report on Tuesday, which, citing six sources familiar with the matter, said the two countries were in discussions over a potential resettlement plan.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of South Sudan firmly refutes recent media reports,” a government statement said. “These claims are baseless and do not reflect the official position or policy of the Government.”

The AP report said any resettlement would be part of a broader Israeli effort to facilitate what its prime minister has called the “voluntary migration” of people from the war-torn Palestinian enclave. It also said such a deal could help South Sudan establish closer ties with Israel and the United States.

At the time of the initial report, Israel’s foreign ministry had declined to comment, and South Sudan’s foreign minister had not responded to questions, the AP said.

The government statement from Juba urged media outlets to “exercise due diligence and verify information through official channels before publication.”

The original report highlighted humanitarian concerns over any plan to move a population from Gaza to South Sudan, a nation that has struggled with its own protracted civil war and instability.