Israel directs army to plan strategy for Palestinians to voluntarily leave Gaza

Israel’s defence minister directed its military to prepare a plan to “allow any resident of Gaza who wishes to leave to do so” in line with US President Donald Trump’s proposal to take over the territory and resettle 2.1 million Palestinians in other countries.

Israel Katz said that Gazans should have “freedom of movement and migration” and countries critical of the war were “obligated” to take them in. 

In a statemnet on X, Katz welcomed the US President’s “bold initiative” saying that it could "support long-term reconstruction efforts in a demilitarised, threat-free Gaza after Hamas".

He announced that he already had directed its military to prepare a plan that would allow Gazans to move anywhere or “to any country willing to receive them.”

"The plan will include exit options via land crossings, as well as special arrangements for departure by sea and air," he said.

The statement came after Donald Trump’s announced to take over Gaza and transfer Palestinian s to neighbouring Arab countries. The proposal sparked global outrage, particularly in the Middle East, where countries strongly condemned his statements.

He added that Palestinians have no alternative but to leave Gaza. 

Cairo’s envoys warned the US and its allies that it would resist any attempts to move Palestinians across the border, saying the plan threatened its decades-old peace deal with Israel.

Read: 'Would you accept leaving your home to live in Egypt or China?' Gaza girl asks Trump

Rejecting the plan that favoured Israel, Hamas officials said the proposal revealed intentions to occupy Gaza.

Meanwhile, Egypt, named by Trump as a possible destination for Palestinians, launched an intense diplomatic campaign to block the plan from advancing.

Read: UN chief warns against ethnic cleansing after Trump says US will ‘own’ Gaza

The Israeli military launched a ruthless military offensive in Gaza to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, leaving at least 1,200 people killed and 251 taken hostage. 

Over 47,550 Palestinians were killed and 111,600 injured in Gaza since then.

Most of Gaza’s population has been displaced multiple times and almost 70% of buildings were estimated to be destroyed or damaged.