Israel asks army to prepare plan for Palestinians to "voluntarily" leave Gaza
Katz announced that the military’s plan would provide options for departure by land, air, and sea, allowing Palestinians freedom of movement.
Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has ordered the military to prepare plans to allow Palestinians from Gaza “who wish to leave” to exit the territory.
This development comes after US President Donald Trump suggested that the United States should take control of Gaza and relocate its residents to other countries, a proposal that has sparked intense international backlash.
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Katz announced that the military’s plan would provide options for departure by land, air, and sea, allowing Palestinians freedom of movement. In a statement posted on X, Katz said, “The people of Gaza should have the right to freedom of movement and migration.”
However, he made it clear that this movement would only be in one direction out of Gaza.
Before the outbreak of the ongoing conflict, Israel’s restrictions on movement in and out of Gaza were already extremely tight, limiting the ability of Palestinians to travel internationally.
These restrictions became even more stringent as the conflict escalated last May, when Israeli forces began operations near the Rafah crossing. Since then, Palestinians have been effectively unable to leave Gaza.
The issue of evacuations has become particularly urgent after an agreement was reached to allow medical evacuations as part of a ceasefire deal.
On Saturday, the first group of sick children left Gaza, although two tragically died before they could be evacuated, and several others were deemed too ill to be moved.
Trump’s remarks about the future of Gaza, posted to Truth Social last Thursday, proposed that Israel turn over the Gaza Strip to the United States once the fighting ends. He proposed the relocation of Palestinians to "far safer and more beautiful communities" in the region, equipped with modern homes.
Trump's assertion that this plan would not require US military personnel in Gaza sparked widespread condemnation.
The suggestion that the US should take control of Gaza has sparked outrage globally. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the proposal could lead to "ethnic cleansing," urging the international community to avoid any measures that would force the displacement of Palestinians.
"In the search for solutions, we must not make the problem worse. It is vital to stay true to the bedrock of international law. It is essential to avoid any form of ethnic cleansing," Guterres told a previously planned meeting of a UN committee. "We must reaffirm the two-state solution," he said.
The Geneva Conventions, to which both Israel and the US are signatories, prohibit forced or coerced displacement and recognise such actions as crimes against humanity.
There was swift opposition to Trump's controversial plan from multiple quarters. Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, rejected the idea outright, insisting that Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people.
"It should be part of a future Palestinian state," he said in a radio interview, adding that Spain would offer support to Palestinians in need, particularly those requiring urgent medical treatment.
Arab nations have also been vocal in their opposition to any suggestion of resettling Gaza’s population. Saudi Arabia, through its Foreign Ministry, condemned any attempts to forcibly relocate Palestinians, reaffirming its stance that peace with Israel is contingent on the establishment of a Palestinian state.
"The kingdom rejects any attempts to displace the Palestinians from their land and will not establish diplomatic ties with Israel without the creation of a Palestinian state," the statement read.
The comments from Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri were also pointed, calling Trump’s remarks "ridiculous and absurd" and warning that such ideas could "ignite the region." He went on to denounce the notion of U.S. control over Gaza as an untenable and destabilising proposal.
In the US, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American to serve in Congress, condemned Trump’s remarks as advocating for "ethnic cleansing." "Trump is openly calling for ethnic cleansing."
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