Palestine condemns Israel’s deportation plans, rejects Somaliland recognition

ISLAMABAD: The Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations condemned Israel’s plans involving the deportation of Palestinians, recalling that Israel had previously used the name Somaliland as a destination for deportations, particularly from the Gaza Strip.

In a post on X on Saturday, the Mission stated that the State of Palestine “affirms its total rejection of Israeli plans for the forced deportation of our people, or under any other pretexts, and considers it a red line, while warning against anyone's alignment with these rejected propositions.”

Earlier, posts on X from the official handle of the Prime Minister of Israel on Friday announced the “official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state.” 

The post said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, and the President of Somaliland signed a “joint and mutual declaration.”

The Israeli posts added that the declaration was “in the spirit of the Abraham Accords, signed at the initiative of President Trump,” and noted that Prime Minister Netanyahu “congratulated the President of Somaliland, Dr. Abdirahman Mohamed Abdallah, and praised his leadership and commitment to promoting stability and peace.”