South Sudan and Israel are discussing a deal to resettle Palestinians from war-torn Gaza in the troubled African nation, three sources told Reuters - a plan quickly dismissed as unacceptable by Palestinian leaders.

South Sudan “firmly refutes recent media reports claiming that the Government of the Republic of South Sudan is engaged in discussion with the State of Israel regarding the resettlement of Palestinian Nationals from Gaza in South Sudan,” the foreign ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

Israeli authorities are reportedly in discussions to resettle Palestinians to war-torn and hunger-stricken South Sudan, as Israel seeks to advance its plans for the forcible expulsion of all Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.