The U.S. administration, in coordination with Israel, has approached the governments of Sudan and Somalia, as well as Syria, to explore the possibility of resettling Palestinians from Gaza, three sources familiar with the effort told CBS News. 

This resettlement idea is part of a broader strategy under President Donald Trump's goal to end the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and to rebuild the war-torn Palestinian enclave. The discussions come amidst ongoing tensions and a dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where over 90% of housing units have been damaged or destroyed, and nearly 2 million civilians have been displaced. More than 48,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war since October 2023.

On Wednesday, Trump responded to a question from a Voice of America reporter about his controversial February remarks, when he suggested taking ownership of Gaza for its reconstruction.

“Nobody is expelling any Palestinians,” Trump said during a meeting with the Irish Prime Minister in the Oval Office. His remarks followed a statement on February 4, in which he described Gaza as potentially becoming the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Trump emphasized the need to "go to other countries of interest with humanitarian hearts" and suggested that other nations could help build new communities for Palestinians to occupy, thus ending the cycle of destruction in Gaza.

Israeli and U.S. officials reportedly reached out to Sudan and Somalia to discuss potential relocation options for Palestinians. Senior Israeli far-right government officials have long advocated for Palestinians to migrate from Gaza, and Trump's statements have only strengthened their resolve to explore these options.

Sources indicate that the U.S. administration has also shown interest in Syria as a possible resettlement site. One source mentioned that the Trump administration attempted outreach to Syria's interim government through a third-party intermediary, though it is unclear whether the Syrian government has responded. A senior Syrian official, however, denied any knowledge of discussions with the U.S. or Israel regarding Palestinian resettlement.

Meanwhile, Somali Ambassador to the U.S. Dahir Hassan told CBS News that neither the U.S. nor Israeli authorities had approached Somalia about resettling Palestinians. He expressed concern that such "unverified information" could fuel extremist recruitment, exacerbating security challenges in the region.

While Sudan and Somalia face their own struggles—Sudan is currently embroiled in civil war, and Somalia remains a fragile state plagued by insurgency—these countries are being considered as possible destinations for Palestinians displaced by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Trump has repeatedly suggested that Palestinians would have a choice regarding their departure from Gaza but has also implied that the move could be permanent. In a Fox News interview, he said, “We’ll build beautiful communities, safe communities,” and indicated that Palestinians would not be able to return to Gaza, given the region's uninhabitable state for years to come.

The United Nations has confirmed the severe extent of the destruction in Gaza, with the health ministry reporting over 48,000 deaths since the conflict began. The war was sparked by the October 7 Hamas attack, which killed more than 1,000 Israelis and resulted in the abduction of around 100 others.

Many Arab governments, the United Nations, and some Democratic lawmakers have criticized Trump’s resettlement plan, with some labeling it as ethnic cleansing. Instead, they have supported an Egyptian-led reconstruction initiative for Gaza, though both the U.S. and Israel have rejected this alternative, citing the region's uninhabitable state.

Syria’s new interim leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, condemned Trump’s remarks in February, calling the plan a “serious crime” that would ultimately fail. The long-term U.S. policy toward Syria remains uncertain, with some advocating for direct engagement with the new Syrian government to prevent Iranian influence in the region and ensure the defeat of ISIS.

The U.S. State Department declined to comment directly on the discussions, referring to statements made by Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff, who emphasized the need for new policy options that would improve the lives of Gazans and Palestinians at large.

Witkoff reiterated in a Fox News interview that the U.S. is exploring various alternatives to address the humanitarian crisis, including resettling Palestinians in countries like Egypt, Jordan, or other willing nations in the region.