South Sudan has quietly agreed to take in Gaza residents who choose to leave the Strip, as part of a high-stakes, four-nation initiative involving Israel, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates � but deep internal resistance could derail the deal before it takes shape, The Telegraph reported Thursday.

A senior source in South Sudan�s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to the outlet that ministers had approved the proposal. Under the arrangement, the UAE would deliver badly needed economic aid to the cash-strapped nation, the U.S. would ease sanctions, and Israel would invest in health and education infrastructure.

�South Sudan has enough space to host people of different nationalities,� the official said. �This is also good for the South Sudanese people � to open a window to foreign business and bring growth to the economy.�

But the plan, which envisions voluntary relocation of Gazans, has not been announced publicly. The same source admitted that �opposition elsewhere� has kept the government from openly acknowledging its involvement.

�A deal like this will not be easy for South Sudanese to understand. We have a complex political situation,� the source cautioned.

That opposition was on full display in parliament, where lawmakers debated � and rejected � the proposal.

�I oppose it because South Sudan is a young country,� one legislator said. �We cannot even feed ourselves. How can we take in more people to live with us? In the next session we will reject it again. It is unacceptable.�

The Gaza relocation talks extend beyond South Sudan. A senior Israeli official told CNN that Somaliland, Ethiopia, Libya, and Indonesia have also been approached, but each is seeking �substantial economic and international compensation� in exchange for participation.

The Associated Press has previously reported that an Israeli delegation was preparing to visit South Sudan to discuss establishing camps for Palestinians � a claim the South Sudanese Foreign Ministry later dismissed as �unfounded� and �not reflective of our position or policy.�

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