Israel on Monday defended its decision to formally recognize the self‑declared Republic of Somaliland, amid questions from several United Nations member states over whether the move was linked to plans to relocate Palestinians from Gaza or establish military bases in the region.
Israel became the first country to recognize Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state on Friday.
Speaking at the UN Security Council, Arab League Ambassador Maged Abdelfattah Abdelaziz said the 22‑member bloc rejects “any measures arising from this illegitimate recognition aimed at facilitating forced displacement of the Palestinian people or exploiting northern Somali ports to establish military bases.”
Pakistan’s Deputy UN Ambassador Muhammad Usman Iqbal Jadoon also voiced concern, saying Israel’s recognition was troubling “against the backdrop of Israel’s previous references to Somaliland… as a destination for the deportation of Palestinian people, especially from Gaza.”
Israel’s UN mission did not respond to requests for comment and did not address the allegations during the council session. Earlier in March, the foreign ministers of Somalia and Somaliland both stated they had received no proposal to resettle Palestinians from Gaza.
According to US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, “No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return.”
Israel’s current coalition government the most right‑wing and religiously conservative in its history includes politicians who support annexing both Gaza and the West Bank, and who encourage Palestinians to leave the territories.
Somalia’s UN Ambassador Abukar Dahir Osman said that Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone, and Somalia “unequivocally reject any steps aimed at advancing this objective, including any attempt by Israel to relocate the Palestinian population from Gaza to the northwestern region of Somalia.”
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