Is Israel planning to move Palestinians to South Sudan? Netanyahu hints at 'voluntary migration'; Gaza toll crosses 62,000

Israel is exploring the idea of transferring Palestinians from Gaza to South Sudan, according to a report by the New York Times, which said the plan is part of a broader push for large-scale emigration.For months, Israeli officials have spoken of “voluntary migration,” presenting it as a humanitarian option for Palestinians who wish to leave. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted Israel is not “pushing out” people, but he has avoided clarifying whether those who leave would ever be allowed to return.The NYT reported that South Sudan, one of the world’s poorest and most conflict-ridden nations, has publicly denied any involvement.

However, senior officials in Juba have privately discussed the idea with Israeli representatives, according to Middle Eastern and South Sudanese sources familiar with the talks.The debate over Gaza’s future comes as Hamas announced on Monday that it had accepted a ceasefire-hostage release proposal put forward by Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The plan involves a 60-day pause and the release of 10 captives. “The Hamas movement and the Palestinian factions have conveyed their approval on the proposal,” the group said.

Israel has yet to approve the deal, with Netanyahu signalling that his forces are preparing to seize Gaza City and move its population further south.

“We can see clearly that Hamas is under immense pressure,” he said.Meanwhile, humanitarian conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate. On Tuesday, a ship carrying 1,200 tonnes of food left Cyprus for Israel’s port of Ashdod before onward delivery to Gaza. “The situation is beyond dire,” Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos told the Associated Press.The United Nations has warned that famine is taking hold in Gaza, despite Netanyahu dismissing reports of starvation as “lies.” Gaza’s Health Ministry says the death toll from the 22-month war has passed 62,000, with women and children making up around half.The conflict has also exacted a heavy toll on aid workers. The UN said 383 were killed globally in 2024, nearly half of them in Gaza, a record number that humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher described as “a shameful indictment of international inaction.”