Israel, Defense Minister Katz Announces Plan to Make Palestinians Leave Gaza: “Voluntary Departure to Relocate Abroad”

Today, the Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, ordered the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to prepare a plan to allow Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to voluntarily leave the territory. The decision comes later the announcement by US President Donald Trump, who proposed a plan to empty Gaza and transform it in a sort of "Middle East Riviera".

The move was met with harsh criticism internationally, with several world leaders who denounced the plan as a form of forced transfer. China, in particular, has strongly rejected the idea, calling it “a violation of the rights of the Palestinian people” and stating that Gaza cannot be reduced to a “political bargaining chip”.

Katz: “Countries That Opposed Israel’s Attacks on Gaza Should Welcome Palestinians”

In his announcement, the Minister Katz called on countries that have recognized the State of Palestine, such as Spain, Norway and Ireland, to host the residents of Gazaa. He then stressed that countries such as Canada could participate in the program, having already expressed in the past their willingness to welcome Palestinian refugees.

«If these countries refuse to accept the Palestinians, their hypocrisy will be evident.", Katz said, noting that many of these states have often criticized Israel for its actions in Gaza.

The plan includes options for allow Palestinians to leave the Strip through land crossings, in addition to organizing special departures by sea and by air. According to Katz, this would be an opportunity for «to guarantee freedom of movement for Gazans, offering them the opportunity to build a new life elsewhere».

The Shadow of “Ethnic Cleansing”: International Reactions

The announcement of Katz's plan sparked a wave of reactions international. According to some experts of theONU, the initiative could be configured as an act of ethnic cleansing, violating international law.

In Europe, the French Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, condemned the Israeli initiative and the plan proposed by Trump, defining it as «a guilty illusion» which risks further destabilizing the region. «There is no peace without justice», stressed Barrot, adding that «Thinking of redrawing borders by force is a dangerous mistake».

Israel withdraws from UN Human Rights Council

In parallel, the Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Sa'ar, announced that Israel will follow the US example by withdrawing from United Nations Human Rights Council, defining it as an organ characterized by “institutional bias against Israel”.

«We will no longer tolerate the Council's blatant anti-Semitism", Sa'ar said, adding that the withdrawal is a direct response to repeated condemnations of Israeli policies in the Palestinian territories.

Netanyahu's position

In an interview the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu He also supported Trump's proposal, calling it "an extraordinary idea» which deserves to be prosecuted. «Allowing Gazans who want to leave to do so… what’s wrong with that?", Netanyahu commented.

According to the proposed plan, Gaza could be demilitarized and transformed into a tourist and commercial hub, but only after the resettlement of the Palestinian population in new countries willing to accept them.

The proposed voluntary displacement of Gazans is another controversial chapter in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As Israel begins to plan the details of the project, the international community remains divided between those who advocate a pragmatic solution and those who argue for a worsening humanitarian crisis.