The Federal Government of Somalia has strongly rejected claims made by Israeli officials, particularly Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel, alleging the existence of a “special relationship” between Tel Aviv and Mogadishu.
Somalia’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Omar Ali (Ali Balcad), described the claims as “false and misleading,” stressing that there are no diplomatic relations, direct or indirect, between Somalia and Israel.
Ali Balcad reaffirmed that Somalia has consistently maintained its principled position in support of the Palestinian people and emphasized that it is impossible for Somalia to establish relations with a state he accused of committing violations of international law and acts of genocide.
The response followed remarks by Sharren Haskel in an interview with i24NEWS, in which she claimed that Israel and Somalia share a security understanding related to countering the Houthi movement in Yemen, which Israel has accused of posing a threat to the Horn of Africa.
The Somali government categorically denied these assertions, reiterating that Somalia’s foreign policy is guided by the protection of national interests, respect for political sovereignty, and cooperation with the international community only when it aligns with Somalia’s values and its longstanding support for Palestine.
Somalia has never maintained diplomatic relations with Israel and remains among the Arab League and United Nations member states that consistently oppose Israel’s actions in the occupied Palestinian territories.
State Minister Ali Balcad emphasized that Somalia will continue to support the Palestinian people and will firmly respond to any statements intended to create the false impression of relations that do not exist.