Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, said on Thursday that he has instructed the Army to prepare plans for a large number of Palestinians to “voluntarily” leave the Gaza Strip, in line with President Donald Trump’s proposal for the war-torn territory.
Katz stated that the plan "will include exit options through land crossings, as well as special mechanisms for departure by sea and air." The minister expressed his support for "Trump's bold plan, which could allow a large population in Gaza to go to various places around the world."
It was not specified whether Palestinians could return to Gaza in the future, which has become largely uninhabitable due to Israel's 15-month military campaign against Hamas.
Katz also did not specify where he would send Palestinians who choose to leave Gaza, considering Egypt and Jordan's rejection of Trump's plan. According to The Jerusalem Post, the Defense Minister did mention that "countries like Spain, Ireland, Norway, and others, who have made false accusations and blood libels against Israel for its actions in Gaza, are legally obligated to allow any resident of Gaza to enter their territory."
What is Trump's proposal and what was the White House's clarification?
On Tuesday, Trump proposed that the population of Gaza, 1.8 million inhabitants, be permanently relocated to another place, that the United States take control of the territory, and then build there "the Riviera of the Middle East."
The idea of the President of the United States was widely rejected globally, by allies in Europe such as the United Kingdom and France, and also by allies in the Middle East like Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Then, this Wednesday, top White House officials, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, contradicted Trump and stated that the relocation would be "temporary."
Human rights groups said it would amount to a forced displacement that violates international law.