Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday that he has instructed the military to prepare a plan for the evacuation of a large number of Palestinians from Gaza through land, sea, and air routes.
Mr. Katz welcomed what he called U.S. President Donald Trump’s “bold plan” for the evacuation of Gaza residents from the territory devastated by Israeli air and ground strikes aimed at Hamas militants.
Palestinian officials rejected President Trump’s plan, which suggests that the United States take control of the Gaza Strip and force the relocation of 2 million Palestinians to other countries. Mr. Trump said the region along the Mediterranean Sea would be transformed into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
President Trump made these comments on Tuesday during a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In an interview on Wednesday with Fox News, Mr. Netanyahu said Palestinians could leave Gaza while it is rebuilt and then return.
“It’s an extraordinary idea, and I think it should be considered and implemented, because I believe it would create a different future for everyone,” he said.
President Trump’s proposal has faced widespread criticism, including from the United Nations. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Wednesday that any forced relocation “is equivalent to ethnic cleansing.”
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Wednesday that President Trump’s proposals “have caused deep concern among many, even horror.” He added that, based on international law, these proposals are unacceptable.
The Arab League, which has 22 member countries, stated that President Trump’s plan “is a recipe for instability” and contradicts the prospect of a Palestinian state.
The United States has long supported a two-state solution to end the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“They should be allowed to go home,” said British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday. “They should be allowed to rebuild, and we should help them do that on the path to a two-state solution,” he added.
Australia, China, Germany, Ireland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Spain said after the U.S. president’s proposal that they continue to support a two-state solution.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on the United Nations to “protect the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights.” He added that Mr. Trump’s plan for Gaza would be “a serious violation of international law.”
The militant group Hamas also described President Trump’s proposal for Gaza as “a recipe for chaos and tension in the region.”
“Instead of holding the Zionist occupiers accountable for the crime of genocide and displacement, they are rewarded and not punished,” said Hamas.
Before President Trump announced his plan for the United States to take control of Gaza, Egypt and Jordan had already rejected his suggestion made a few days earlier that Palestinians in Gaza should be relocated to these countries.
Egypt’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement emphasizing the need to rebuild Gaza “without displacing Palestinians from the region.”
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, said on Wednesday that the deportation of the population from the Israeli-occupied region would be illegal.
“The right to self-determination is a fundamental principle of international law and must be protected by all states, as the International Court of Justice has recently emphasized. Any forcible transfer or expulsion of people from the occupied territory is strictly prohibited,” said Mr. Turk in a statement.
Later, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a speech that “in seeking solutions, we must not make the problem worse.” He added that it is “vital to remain faithful to the foundation of international law by avoiding any form of ethnic cleansing.”
The fighting in Gaza has stopped thanks to a six-week ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, a group designated as a terrorist organization by the United States.
The militant group was responsible for triggering the conflict in the region following a surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, during which militants killed 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage.
As a result of Israel’s counteroffensive, more than 47,500 people have been killed, more than half of whom are women and children. These figures are provided by the Gaza Ministry of Health, which is controlled by Hamas. The Israeli military claims to have killed 17,000 Hamas militants.
Hamas is believed to be holding around 60 hostages, who are still alive.
During the first phase of the ceasefire, militants released 18 hostages, while Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. In the coming weeks, many more are expected to be released.
Negotiators are working on the details of the second phase of the ceasefire, which will end the conflict, during which the remaining hostages will be released, and the Israeli military will withdraw from Gaza.
