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Israel Prepares Plan for Gaza Residents to Relocate Amid US Proposal for Resettlement
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has ordered the military to develop a plan allowing Gaza residents to leave the territory, aligning with US President Donald Trump’s proposal for the US to take control of Gaza and relocate its 2.1 million Palestinians. While Israel supports the initiative, the Palestinian leadership has firmly rejected it, calling it a violation of international law. The ongoing conflict, which began after Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has led to severe humanitarian conditions in Gaza, with over 47,550 reported deaths and widespread destruction. The UN has condemned any forced displacement, while Trump envisions a reconstructed Gaza under US administration, with Palestinians relocated to neighboring countries.
Washington, United States – Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed the military to develop a plan allowing Gaza residents to leave the territory, aligning with US President Donald Trump’s proposal for the United States to assume control of Gaza and relocate its 2.1 million Palestinian residents.
Katz emphasized the importance of "freedom of movement and migration" for Gazans and suggested that nations critical of Israel’s military operations should accept displaced residents. Trump echoed this stance, stating that Gaza would be “turned over” to the US following the conflict.
The Palestinian leadership strongly rejected the proposal, asserting that such a move would violate international law. Palestinian presidential spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeineh declared that “Palestine... is not for sale,” reaffirming that the Palestinian people would not cede any territory.
Israel's military launched a major campaign against Hamas following the October 7, 2023, attack that left approximately 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 taken hostage. Since then, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry has reported over 47,550 deaths and 111,600 injuries. The war has displaced most of Gaza’s population and caused severe infrastructure collapse, including critical shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
Katz's directive outlines plans for exit routes via land, sea, and air for Gazans willing to relocate. He accused Hamas of preventing civilians from leaving and urged nations such as Spain, Ireland, and Norway—vocal critics of Israel—to accept refugees.
Meanwhile, Hamas condemned the plan, calling it an attempt to conceal Israel’s failure to achieve its military objectives. The United Nations also issued warnings against forced displacement, with Secretary-General António Guterres stressing that Gaza must remain part of a future Palestinian state.
Trump’s proposal, unveiled during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, envisions a US-administered Gaza rebuilt into “the Riviera of the Middle East.” The plan suggests relocating Gazans to Jordan, Egypt, and other countries while the territory undergoes reconstruction. However, US officials provided conflicting statements on whether displaced Palestinians could eventually return.
While Netanyahu described Trump’s proposal as "remarkable" and worth exploring, regional leaders, including Jordan’s King and Egypt’s Foreign Minister, have opposed any forced displacement of Palestinians.
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