Israel to create official body for Gaza exits
Israel’s Defence Ministry has announced that it will create a government body aimed at advancing what it describes as the “voluntary departure of Gaza residents”, Asharq Al-Awsat reported on February 18th.
The move signals Israel’s growing support for a proposal initially put forward by former US President Donald Trump, which involves relocating Palestinians out of Gaza.
President Trump has ruled out any possibility of allowing displaced Palestinians to return, insisting that his plan calls for their permanent resettlement in newly built communities.
The plan has provoked strong opposition from Palestinians and drawn condemnation across the Middle East.
For instance, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has criticised plans to relocate Gaza’s population to Jordan and Egypt, claiming it is a “visionary issue.”
Within Israel, it has shifted from being a fringe idea associated with the far right to gaining broader legitimacy.
Trump has said that the US would oversee a period of cleanup and reconstruction in Gaza, although Palestinians would not be permitted to return.
While both Trump and Israeli officials have framed the relocation as voluntary, international legal experts warn that enforcing such a policy could constitute a war crime.
Echoing these concerns, Syria’s president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, denounced the proposal as a grave injustice, arguing that history shows forced displacement always fails.
According to Defence Minister Israel Katz’s office, the initiative involves providing “extensive assistance that will allow any Gaza resident who wishes to voluntarily emigrate to a third country to receive a package that includes, among other things, special departure arrangements by sea, air, and land.”
Asharq Al-Awsat
