(JUBA) – South Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has denied claims that the government is in discussions with Israel to resettle Palestinian nationals from Gaza in the country. The statement, issued on 13 August 2025, described the reports as “baseless” and not representative of official policy.
However, the denial has drawn further public interest after major international media outlets, including the US-based Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and the Associated Press (AP), reported the story citing multiple informed sources.
Commentator Ajak Deng Chiengkou questioned whether the Ministry was denying the existence of such sources, arguing that the public deserves a clear explanation of how PBS and AP obtained their information.
“South Sudanese citizens expect full transparency,” he said, adding that this requires the government to open official channels, answer direct questions, and release verifiable facts. “A brief denial is not enough when the nation’s sovereignty, land rights, and international reputation are at stake.”
The Ministry’s press release did not directly address the claims made by the two news organisations or outline steps to counter the allegations beyond urging media outlets to verify information through official channels.
Diplomatic analysts note that the issue touches on sensitive areas of foreign policy, regional politics, and domestic concerns over land rights, making public communication particularly important. They warn that in the absence of detailed clarification, speculation is likely to continue.
South Sudan maintains relations with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, but officials have consistently said that the country’s foreign engagements in the Middle East focus on development cooperation and humanitarian matters, not political resettlement.
The government has yet to release additional evidence or official correspondence to clarify the origins of the reports.
