Somalia’s Defence Minister Ahmed Moalim Fiqi has accused Israel of planning to forcibly displace Palestinians to the breakaway region of Somaliland, denouncing the alleged plan as a “serious violation” of international law.

In an interview with Al Jazeera on Saturday, Fiqi said Somalia has “confirmed information that Israel has a plan to transfer Palestinians and to send them to [Somaliland]”.

His comments came against the backdrop of longstanding fears raised by Somali officials that Israel intended to forcibly expel Palestinians from Gaza to Somaliland, reports that the self-governing region and Israel have denied.

Somaliland declared independence from Somalia in 1991 but has never gained United Nations recognition. Israel’s December decision made it the first country to recognise Somaliland as independent.