Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Thursday ordered the military to prepare for the “voluntary departure” of Palestinians from Gaza as Israeli officials are hoping to pursue ethnic cleansing following Trump’s proposals for the enclave.
“I have instructed the IDF to prepare a plan that will allow any resident of Gaza who wishes to leave to do so, to any country willing to receive them,” Katz wrote on X.
The Times of Israel reported that Katz held a meeting with Israeli military officials to assess how to get Palestinians out of Gaza in line with Trump’s proposal.
Katz said the plan will include “exit options via land crossings, as well as special arrangements for departure by sea and air.” He said Palestinians should go to Western countries that have been critical of Israel’s genocidal tactics in Gaza.
“Countries such as Spain, Ireland, Norway, and others, which have falsely accused Israel over its actions in Gaza, are legally obligated to allow Gazans to enter their territory. Their hypocrisy will be exposed if they refuse,” Katz said.
“Meanwhile, countries like Canada, which has a structured immigration program, have previously expressed willingness to take in residents from Gaza,” he added.
The idea of Western countries taking in Palestinians from Gaza has been suggested before by Israeli officials, including Danny Danon, Israel’s current representative to the UN. While working in the Knesset, Danon co-authored an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal that argued the West should absorb Palestinians.
While Katz and other Israeli officials frame their idea as “voluntary migration,” ethnic cleansing has been the ideal outcome for the Israeli government since October 2023. Palestinians in Gaza have strongly rejected Trump’s plan to “relocate” them, meaning any plan for ethnic cleansing will require a restart of the genocidal war.
While Palestinians and Arab states have strongly rejected Trump’s proposal for a US “takeover” of Gaza, which would require ethnic cleansing, Israelis have welcomed it.
“I welcome President [Trump’s] bold initiative, which can create extensive opportunities for those in Gaza who wish to leave, assist them in resettling in host countries, and support long-term reconstruction efforts in a demilitarized, threat-free Gaza after Hamas—an effort that will take many years,” Katz said.
