The plan would envisage people moving from an enclave shattered by almost two years of war with Israel to a nation in the heart of Africa riven by political and ethnically-driven violence.

Libya, South Sudan and Syria are among the countries Israel has spoken to in its effort to move hundreds of thousands from the enclave.

A Toronto immigration and refugee lawyer has filed a petition to the federal court to force the Canadian government to speed up the resettlement process. Two Palestinian-Canadian families worry their loved ones could die while waiting.

Palestinians and human rights groups have largely rejected Israel’s proposal to remove the people of Gaza from their homeland

Obeid, known fondly as the Palestinian Pele, was killed in an attack by Israeli forces while waiting for humanitarian aid, the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) said. Al-Obeid, who was 41, leaves behind a wife and five children.

Israel is in discussions with South Sudan about the possibility of resettling Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to the war-torn East African country, part of a wider effort by Israel to facilitate mass emigration from the territory left in ruins by its 22-month offensive against Hamas.

The State Department said it was halting all visas for Palestinians from Gaza, including medical visas for children.