Yossi Schwartz ISL (RCIT section in Israel/Occupied Palestine) 21.08.2025
In recent months, Libya has been conducting secret contacts with Israel, in coordination with the United States, to examine the possibility of absorbing “hundreds of thousands of Palestinians” from the Gaza Strip, the London-based pro-Qatari news site Middle East Eye reported tonight.
The report claims that Ibrahim Dbeibeh, Libya’s national security adviser and a relative of Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Dbeibeh, is promoting a deal with Israeli representatives through “quiet talks,” in coordination with the US administration. As part of the deal, Libya will absorb Palestinians from Gaza, and in return, Washington will release about $30 billion of Libyan state funds that have been frozen in the United States since 2011, when the uprising against Muammar Gaddafi broke out
“Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the issue, Libyan, Arab and European officials told MEE that National Security Adviser Ibrahim Dbeibah, a relative of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, was spearheading the talks despite Palestinians in Gaza flatly rejecting US President Donald Trump’s postwar plan for the enclave”.[i]
One Libyan source said that “practical talks” had already taken place but the specifics were vague.
The report claimed that this was an American initiative aimed at creating a “regional solution” for settling the residents of the Gaza Strip in a third country. In addition, the Libyan parliament was not informed of the contacts, fearing that the disclosure of the details would lead to a popular protest in Libya.
Arab and European sources said that the mechanism for implementing the deal has not yet been agreed, but Israel sees Libya as a “natural destination” due to its vast territory and unstable political situation. One of the sources told the website that “Tripoli’s interest is clear – the release of the funds will give life to the destroyed economy, in exchange for participation in the deportation plan.”
In response to Middle East Eye’s appeal to Libyan Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dbeibeh, he denied the report. He claimed that his government “will not be complicit in the crime of resettlement of Palestinians.” However, political sources in Libya confirmed to the website that contacts with Israel are continuing.
Libya has two rival governments: one in Tripoli, internationally recognized, and another in the east, both with competing claims to legitimacy. The US supports the Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli, and this government is the one that is willing to settle the exiled Gazans if Netanyahu realizes his criminal plan.
Many state institutions are dysfunctional, hindering effective governance and the delivery of services. Efforts to hold national elections, which could help stabilize the country, have been repeatedly delayed due to political disagreements.
Down with the Zionist Monster war criminal state!
Endnotes:
[i] https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/libya-senior-official-secret-talks-israel-resettle-palestinians-gaza