Israel has defended its recognition of Somaliland as an independent state, as several countries at the United Nations questioned whether the move could be linked to plans to relocate Palestinians from Gaza or establish Israeli military bases.

Israel became the first country to recognise Somaliland on Friday, a move debated at the UN Security Council on Monday amid concerns raised by Arab and Muslim-majority states over Israel’s intentions.

The Arab League said it rejected “any measures arising from this illegitimate recognition aimed at facilitating forced displacement of the Palestinian people or exploiting northern Somali ports to establish military bases,” according to its UN ambassador, Maged Abdelfattah Abdelaziz.

Pakistan’s deputy UN ambassador, Muhammad Usman Iqbal Jadoon, said Israel’s move was “deeply troubling,” citing previous references to Somaliland as a possible destination for Palestinians, particularly from Gaza.

Israel’s UN mission did not directly respond to those allegations during the meeting. Earlier this year, the foreign ministers of Somalia and Somaliland said they had not received any proposals to resettle Palestinians from Gaza.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza states that “no one will be forced to leave Gaza,” adding that those who choose to leave would be free to return.

Somalia’s UN ambassador, Abukar Dahir Osman, said several council members, including Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone and Somalia, “unequivocally reject” any attempt to relocate Palestinians to Somaliland.

Israel rejected claims that its decision was hostile to Somalia. Deputy UN Ambassador Jonathan Miller told the council that recognition “is not an act of defiance” and does not preclude future dialogue between Somalia and Somaliland.

Somaliland has operated as a self-governing region since 1991, following Somalia’s descent into civil war, but has not previously been recognised by any UN member state.

The issue was also framed in contrast to Palestinian statehood. Slovenia’s UN ambassador, Samuel Žbogar, said recognising Somaliland violated the UN Charter, noting that the territory is part of a UN member state, while Palestine remains an illegally occupied territory.

Israel said it plans to pursue immediate cooperation with Somaliland in agriculture, health, technology and the economy. Somaliland officials hope the recognition will encourage other countries to follow suit, boosting its international standing and access to global markets.

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