A report by the Middle East Eye (MEE) has revealed that a senior figure in Libya’s UN-recognised Government of National Unity (GNU) has been engaged in secret talks with Israeli officials regarding the potential resettlement of Palestinians expelled from Gaza.
According to Middle East Eye (MEE) , the discussions were led by Ibrahim Dbaiba, the national security adviser for his cousin, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbaiba. Multiple Libyan, Arab and European sources told the outlet that the talks were being conducted quietly, without parliamentary knowledge, due to Libya’s strongly pro-Palestinian public opinion.
According to MEE, a source said “practical talks” had already taken place, though no clear implementation mechanism had been agreed. Reports suggest that the United States offered Libya economic incentives, including the release of $30bn in frozen state assets, if it accepted displaced Palestinians.
The revelations come as Israel continues to float ideas of relocating Gaza’s population, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently saying that his government was in contact with “several countries” over the issue. Israel’s Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter even singled out Libya as an “ideal destination” for Gazans.
The proposal has sparked alarm. Analysts warn that transferring Palestinians to Libya – a country fractured by civil war, rival governments and militia rule – could be catastrophic, pushing desperate families into further instability or risky migration routes across the Mediterranean.
GNU officials have strongly denied involvement. Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbaiba recently said his government “categorically rejects” any role in what he called the “crime” of displacing Palestinians, stressing Libya’s refusal to normalise ties with Israel.
Middle East Eye also claimed that Libya’s rival eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar was approached with similar proposals, though he too denied involvement.
With Libya already deeply divided, observers say any complicity in Israel’s controversial relocation plans could trigger widespread public anger.
