The proposed displacement of Palestinians from Gaza will be managed by the Defence Ministry.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Monday that the idea for the agency was approved by Israel’s security cabinet over the weekend.
This decision comes in response to United States President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the residents of Gaza should relocate to other countries. This proposal has sparked global debate, with human rights organizations and critics labeling it as ethnic cleansing.
Over the weekend, the security cabinet gave the green light for Defence Minister Israel Katz’s proposal to establish this new agency.
The spokesperson confirmed the establishment of an entity responsible for “preparing the voluntary departure of Gaza Strip residents to third countries in a safe and controlled manner.” This means that the administration of emigration will fall under the Defence Ministry’s jurisdiction.
Individuals wishing to leave the heavily restricted Gaza Strip will be permitted to do so “in compliance with Israeli and international law and in alignment with U.S. President Donald Trump’s vision,” as stated by Netanyahu’s spokesperson.
Middle East ‘Riviera’
Israeli nationalists have long advocated for the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza and the occupied West Bank, a stance that has been further emphasized during the conflict with Hamas. Some critics have accused the Israeli government of hindering humanitarian aid to the region to encourage people to leave.
Last month, Trump outlined his plan to have the U.S. take control of Gaza and relocate Palestinians to countries like Egypt and Jordan. The plan, aimed at transforming the conflict-affected area into a “Middle East Riviera,” has drawn international condemnation and strong opposition from Palestinians, Arab negotiators, and many nations around the world.
The spokesperson for Netanyahu did not disclose the third countries that might collaborate with Israel on this plan. Netanyahu has previously expressed his support for Trump’s vision of a new Gaza, vowing that after the war, neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority will govern the territory.
Back in February, Katz ordered the military to develop strategies to enact Trump’s proposal for resettling Palestinians from Gaza. The Israeli peace group, Peace Now, has vehemently criticized the move, calling it an “indelible stain on Israel.” They argue that when life in a region becomes uninhabitable due to bombings and sieges, the choice to leave is no longer voluntary.
There has been no immediate response from Egypt and other Arab countries to the confirmation of the plan. However, these nations have consistently advocated for a “two-state solution” and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
