Sudan has pushed back against recent reports suggesting it is trying to revive ties with Israel in return for military support, as the country continues to face internal conflict and political pressure.
The government says it has no current plans or contacts related to formalizing diplomatic relations with Israel.
The controversy began after Sudanese media outlet Al-Rakoba reported that a top military envoy, Lieutenant General Al-Sadiq Ismail, traveled to Israel earlier this month. According to the report, Ismail met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss restarting normalization efforts. The visit was said to represent army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, with the aim of finalizing Sudan’s stalled engagement with Israel.
Back in 2020, Sudan agreed to join the Abraham Accords, the US-brokered agreements designed to normalize relations between Israel and a number of Arab states. However, Sudan’s deepening political unrest and the outbreak of civil war delayed any formal treaty or implementation. Reports now claim that Sudan is revisiting those plans in hopes of securing support from Israel and, by extension, the United States.
Part of the alleged goal was to gain Israeli help in shaping a more favorable image of General Al-Burhan in Washington. The envoy was also said to have raised concerns about Sudan’s strained relationship with the United Arab Emirates, accusing the Gulf state of backing the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) during the ongoing conflict.
Sudan’s Foreign Minister, Ali Youssef Al-Sharif, dismissed the report during a public appearance at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum. He told international media that he had no knowledge of any new normalization efforts and denied that Sudan was seeking closer ties with Israel. He emphasized that if such a trip took place, it was not sanctioned by the government and does not reflect its official stance.
The minister also denied separate rumors that Sudan had been approached to accept Palestinian refugees from Gaza, another issue reportedly discussed during the envoy’s alleged visit to Israel. He insisted that no such proposal had been made to Khartoum.
The civil war in Sudan, which has fractured the country and displaced millions, continues to complicate foreign relations. Amid the chaos, any suggestion of diplomatic maneuvering is likely to stir controversy, especially when it involves sensitive issues like normalization with Israel.
While the Sudanese leadership continues to deal with a fragile internal situation, it appears that formal ties with Israel remain off the table—at least for now, according to official statements.