Israel has finalized plans to facilitate the removal of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, according to Defence Minister Israel Katz. Speaking at a conference hosted by the Israeli news outlet Ynet and the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth on Wednesday, Katz emphasized that the government is fully organized to execute such a transfer by air, sea, or any other available means.
Katz asserted that a long-term resolution for the territory is impossible without migration. He claimed, without providing specific evidence, that 80 percent of Gaza’s residents desire to leave but are currently being prevented from doing so by Hamas.
The minister noted that the proposal remains a subject of ongoing discussion. He stated that while the plan is currently on hold, it has not been abandoned. According to Katz, the success of this initiative depends on US cooperation, with the timing of any potential approval linked to whether Hamas adheres to its obligations under the existing ceasefire.
The concept of mass displacement has faced significant international and domestic scrutiny. US President Donald Trump, early in his second term, initially suggested that the two million residents of Gaza should leave, proposing that the coastal territory be redeveloped into a luxury resort. However, Trump later walked back this idea following intense opposition, including from Egypt, and subsequently outlined a 20-point plan for the region that excluded forced displacement.
Palestinians have strongly condemned such proposals, viewing them as a modern echo of the “Nakba”—the mass displacement that occurred during the 1948 creation of Israel. Furthermore, legal experts note that the forced displacement of civilians within occupied territory is classified as a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.
The conflict has resulted in a severe humanitarian toll. Official Israeli figures indicate that the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack resulted in 1,221 deaths. Since then, Israeli military operations have led to the internal displacement of the vast majority of Gaza’s population. Data from the Gaza health ministry, which operates under Hamas, reports that 73,470 lives have been lost in the offensive, with more than 1,330 deaths occurring since the ceasefire began.
The broader geopolitical context remains tense, with the International Criminal Court having issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant regarding alleged war crimes. Both Israel and the United States have rejected these allegations.
The US embassy has directed inquiries regarding these statements to the State Department in Washington. Meanwhile, the region continues to grapple with the aftermath of the ongoing hostilities and the complex diplomatic challenges surrounding the future of the Gaza Strip. The report also notes that sharjah Police confirm deaths of two Kazakh sisters reported missing. The report also notes that trump vows to hit Iran ‘hard’ after first exchange of fire in a month. The report also notes that bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan deal with attacks after US launches new strikes on Iran. The report also notes that two tankers on fire after hitting mines in Strait of Hormuz: IRGC.
Source: Khaleej Times
