President Abbas rejects Israel's recognition of 'Somaliland' and considers it an attempt to deport Palestinians

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed, on Saturday, his rejection of the mutual recognition between Israel and the separatist region of 'Somaliland', considering that this step comes as part of desperate attempts by Tel Aviv to deport Palestinians to Somalia.

On Friday, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that the latter 'announced the official recognition of the Republic of Somaliland as an independent sovereign state', a step that met with widespread international rejection.

In response, Abbas, in a statement carried by the Palestinian News Agency 'WAFA', expressed 'his support for the unity and integrity of Somali territories, and his complete rejection of any steps that could undermine Somali sovereignty or undermine the foundations of stability in the country'.

And he emphasized 'Palestine's support for the legitimate institutions of the Somali state, and rejection of any attempts to impose parallel entities that conflict with the unity of the Somali state'.

And the Palestinian President praised the rejecting positions on this step 'which aims at desperate attempts to deport Palestinians to Somalia'.

During the months of the Israeli war on Gaza, official Israeli statements escalated regarding proceeding with plans to deport Gaza Palestinians outside the sector, while Hebrew media spoke about possible destinations including African countries such as Somalia.

And the announcement of Israel's mutual recognition of the separatist region of 'Somaliland' escalated fears that the step could be a prelude to deporting Palestinians from the sector to the region.

And the region of 'Somaliland', which has not enjoyed official recognition since declaring secession from Somalia in 1991, acts as an independent entity administratively, politically, and security-wise, with the central government's inability to extend its control over the region, or its leadership's failure to achieve independence.

Following Tel Aviv's recognition, Somalia confirmed in its government statement on Friday, 'its absolute and non-negotiable commitment to its sovereignty, national unity, and territorial integrity', emphasizing 'the categorical rejection of the illegal step taken by Israel claiming to recognize the northern region of Somalia'.

And it emphasized that 'the Somaliland region is an integral part of the territories of the Federal Republic of Somalia, and it is not permissible to separate or dispose of it'.

Meanwhile, several countries and organizations hastened to reject the unilateral Israeli step, including Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Palestine, Jordan, Djibouti, Yemen, the Arab League, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the African Union.