Human rights organizations warn that expelling Gaza’s population could violate international law.

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Israel is reportedly in discussions with South Sudan regarding the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to the East African nation, according to six people familiar with the matter who spoke to the Associated Press.

The proposal is part of Israel’s broader efforts to displace Palestinians from Gaza. Human rights groups caution that such a move could amount to forcible expulsion and ethnic cleansing, in violation of international law. Critics also warn that displaced Palestinians may never be allowed to return, potentially clearing the way for Israel to annex Gaza and re-establish settlements, as advocated by far-right ministers in the Israeli government.

South Sudan, still recovering from a civil war that erupted shortly after its independence in 2011 — a conflict that claimed nearly 400,000 lives and left parts of the country facing famine — already hosts a significant refugee population from neighboring countries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the initiative as “voluntary migration” for much of Gaza’s population, linking it to past statements by former U.S. President Donald Trump. “I think that the right thing to do, even according to the laws of war as I know them, is to allow the population to leave, and then you go in with all your might against the enemy who remains there,” Netanyahu told Israeli broadcaster i24 on Tuesday, without mentioning South Sudan specifically.

The Associated Press reported that Israel and the U.S. have floated similar proposals with Sudan, Somalia, and the breakaway region of Somaliland. Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza, has strongly opposed any forced transfers of Palestinians, citing concerns over a potential refugee influx.

Edmund Yakani, a South Sudanese civil society leader, told the AP that the country “should not become a dumping ground for people … and it should not accept to take people as negotiating chips to improve relations.”

Joe Szlavik, founder of a U.S. lobbying firm working with South Sudan, said he had been briefed by South Sudanese officials on the discussions. According to Szlavik, South Sudan is seeking the Trump administration to lift travel bans and remove sanctions on certain South Sudanese elites, suggesting that Washington could play a role in any agreement regarding the Palestinians’ relocation.

Peter Martell, journalist and author of First Raise a Flag, noted that “cash-strapped South Sudan needs any ally, financial gain and diplomatic security it can get.” The Trump administration has previously pressured other countries to accept deportees, and South Sudan has already taken in eight individuals removed from the U.S. under that policy.

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