Morocco, Puntland, Somaliland on Trump's list to house Palestinians expelled from Gaza: Report
Donald Trump claimed this week that the US will take ‘ownership’ of Gaza, and reaffirmed his intention to facilitate a mass expulsion of the strip's residents
Three African states have been proposed as potential areas where Palestinians from the Gaza Strip can be expelled to, Hebrew media reported on 6 February.
According to a report in Israel’s Channel 12, Morocco, the Puntland State of Somalia, and the secessionist Republic of Somaliland are being considered as places to relocate Palestinians to, as part of US President Donald Trump’s controversial plan to expel Palestinians out of Gaza and take ownership of the strip.
Puntland and Somaliland seek international recognition of their sovereignty over Somali territory, which Morocco seeks recognition of its sovereignty over the occupied Western Saraha.
The report says Trump’s government may use this to push forward his proposal for Gaza.
Recent reports indicate that the US president may be planning to recognize Somaliland, which declared its independence in 1991. Somaliland seeks secession from Somalia.
Aidan J. Simardone wrote for The Cradle in December 2024 that Trump seeks “to bolster the west's foothold in the Horn of Africa against Yemen and counter Chinese influence.”
Channel 12 had previously reported that Trump is planning a transfer of around 100,000 Palestinians to foreign countries including Albania and Indonesia.
The report referred to Albania as "a poor European country in need of a workforce, with the potential to offer significant incentives to persuade it to absorb large numbers of Palestinian refugees."
Trump said on 6 February that Gaza will be “turned over” to the US by Israel, as part of his plan to expel the strip’s residents to neighboring countries and take it over.
Earlier this week, Trump made headlines and drew widespread condemnation regionally and internationally for his declaration that the US will “take over” and establish “ownership” of the Gaza Strip.
The US president has been insisting on the idea of expelling the residents of Gaza to neighboring countries, namely Jordan and Egypt – both of whom have categorically rejected any mass displacement of Palestinians and have rejected the US president’s calls.
Trump claims his proposal aims to place Palestinians out of harm's way to safely reconstruct the strip and deal with massive amounts of unexploded ordnance.
The plan has received significant international and regional backlash and opposition from US officials and political figures.