Israel’s defence minister has ordered the military to begin preparations for the “voluntary” expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, seizing on Donald Trump’s comments that he plans to “take over” the territory.
Israel’s defence minister has ordered the military to begin preparations for the “voluntary” expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, seizing on Donald Trump’s comments that he plans to “take over” the territory.
“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,” Israel Katz wrote in a post on X.
“The plan will include exit options via land crossings, as well as special arrangements for departure by sea and air.”
This comes as officials in the Trump administration backpedal on the president’s threat in response to global outrage.
His comments, made following a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, were condemned by Palestinians and countries across the world but have been seized upon by Israel’s far-right, threatening the fragile ceasefire with Hamas.
Meanwhile, Israelis are keeping up their raids across the occupied West Bank as Palestinians continue to count the costs of the devastating 15-month war on Gaza.
