Israel’s Defense Minister has instructed the military to devise a plan that would allow any Gaza resident who wants to leave to do so, aligning with President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal to resettle the region’s 2.1 million Palestinians. The initiative suggests that the United States take over Gaza post-conflict and relocate Palestinians to other countries such as Jordan or Egypt.
Trump’s proposal is being met with fierce opposition. The Palestinian presidency firmly rejected it, emphasizing that “Palestine is not for sale,” and reiterated its stance against any plan that would threaten Palestinian territorial integrity. The Palestinian leadership also warned that they would not allow history to repeat itself as in 1948 or 1967, when vast numbers of Palestinians were displaced.
Since the outbreak of the conflict in October 2023, in which Hamas launched a devastating attack on Israel, more than 47,550 people in Gaza have lost their lives, and over 111,000 have been injured. The situation in Gaza is dire, with the region’s infrastructure severely damaged, and a collapsed healthcare and sanitation system. Israel’s Defense Minister Katz claims that countries critical of Israel should allow Palestinians to migrate, accusing Hamas of preventing civilians from leaving.
The international community is divided over Trump’s plan, with the UN condemning it as a potential violation of international law. UN officials and human rights groups have stressed that any forced transfer of people would be considered ethnic cleansing. Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu, while acknowledging the proposal’s controversial nature, described it as “remarkable” and worthy of further consideration.
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