Israel minister tells army to plan for Palestinians leaving Gaza

Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, has directed the military to formulate a plan allowing any Palestinian resident of Gaza who wishes to leave the territory. This plan is aligned with former U.S. President Donald Trump's proposal for the U.S. to take control of Gaza and resettle its 2.1 million Palestinian residents elsewhere. Katz emphasized that Gazans should have "freedom of movement and migration," and countries critical of Israel's war with Hamas should be responsible for providing asylum.

Trump further suggested that, at the conclusion of the fighting, Gaza would be "turned over" to the U.S. However, the Palestinian presidency strongly rejected the idea, arguing that it violates international law and asserting that "Palestine is not for sale."

The ongoing conflict began with a deadly cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, by Hamas, which killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. Since then, over 47,500 people have died, and more than 111,600 have been injured in Gaza. The situation has led to widespread displacement, with nearly 70% of Gaza's buildings either destroyed or damaged. Basic services, including healthcare, water, sanitation, and food, have collapsed amid the ongoing war.

On Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz expressed support for U.S. President Donald Trump's "bold initiative" on X, stating it could aid in the long-term reconstruction of a demilitarized Gaza, free from Hamas. Katz revealed he had instructed the Israeli military to devise a plan that would allow any Gaza resident wishing to leave to do so, with options for relocation to any country willing to accept them.

The plan would provide exit routes through land crossings, as well as special provisions for departure by sea and air. Katz also criticized countries like Spain, Ireland, and Norway, which he claimed had falsely accused Israel of wrongdoing in Gaza, suggesting these nations are legally obligated to accept Palestinians. He argued that their refusal would expose hypocrisy.

Katz further accused Hamas of preventing people from leaving Gaza, asserting that Palestinians should have the right to freedom of movement and migration.

In response, Hamas official Basem Naim rejected Katz's statements, accusing him of attempting to cover up Israel's failure in its war on Gaza and asserting that Palestinians would not agree to leave.

The spokesman for the Palestinian presidency, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, declared that "Palestine, with its land, history, and holy sites, is not for sale." He emphasized that Palestinians would "not give up an inch of their land," whether in Gaza or the occupied West Bank. He added that Palestinians would resist any attempt to erase their cause, particularly through investment projects that have no place in Palestine.

Abu Rudeineh's statement references the "Nakba" of 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced during the conflict that followed the creation of the State of Israel. Many of these refugees ended up in Gaza, which now houses most of the descendants of these displaced people. The UN reports that more than 4 million Palestinian refugees live in Gaza, the West Bank, and neighboring countries like Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.

Although Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, it still controls key aspects of the territory, including its borders, airspace, and coastline, which is why the UN continues to regard Gaza as Israeli-occupied. On Wednesday, Jordan's king and Egypt's foreign minister reiterated their opposition to any plan to annex land or forcibly displace Palestinians.

Hamas, which is considered a terrorist group by Israel, the US, the UK, and other countries, rejected the proposed plan, calling it "absurd" and warning that it would escalate tensions in the region. The UN human rights office stated that any forced displacement from occupied territories is forbidden under international law, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the importance of preventing ethnic cleansing and reaffirmed Gaza's role in a future Palestinian state.

During a visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House on Tuesday, President Trump unveiled a plan that would involve the United States taking "long-term ownership" of Gaza and overseeing its reconstruction. Trump suggested that most of the Palestinians living in Gaza would need to be relocated to make way for his vision of transforming the region into "the Riviera of the Middle East," with plans to house them in countries like Jordan, Egypt, and others.

Trump expressed hope that Palestinians would be resettled permanently, without a desire to return to Gaza. However, at a White House briefing on Wednesday, spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt was asked whether all Palestinians who wished to stay in Gaza could do so, and she appeared to contradict Trump, confirming the president’s commitment to rebuilding Gaza and temporarily relocating its residents due to the destruction there.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also explained that the relocation would be temporary while Gaza's debris was cleared and reconstruction took place. On Thursday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that Gaza would be transferred to the U.S. once fighting ended, and he envisioned the Palestinians being resettled in safer, more beautiful communities with new homes.

Trump emphasized that no U.S. troops would be needed to maintain stability. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu called the proposal "remarkable" and said it should be examined and pursued. He added that Gazans could return after relocation, stating, "They can leave, they can then come back, they can relocate and come back, but you have to rebuild Gaza."