denouncing the alleged plan as a “serious violation” of international law. In an interview with Al Jazeera on Saturday, Fiqi said Somalia has “confirmed information that Israel has a plan to transfer Palestinians and to send them to (Somaliland)”.

His comments came against the backdrop of longstanding fears raised by Somali officials that Israel intended to forcibly expel Palestinians from Gaza to Somaliland, reports that the self-governing region and Israel have denied. Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has never gained United Nations recognition. Israel’s December decision made it the first country to recognise Somaliland as independent. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told Israel’s Channel 14 last week that the forcible displacement of Palestinians to Somaliland “was not part of our agreement”.

“I think we have a lot of topics in the field of politics, security, development, and others that we will advance with Somaliland … And I can say this is not part of our agreement,” Saar said. He did not provide further details on what had been agreed, and neither Israeli nor Somaliland officials have disclosed specifics since the recognition announcement. A Somaliland source close to the government, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said the relocation of Palestinians was not a concession made by Somaliland officials, but did not give any more details. (Aljazeera)