Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz has stated that the country is actively seeking Donald Trump's support to approve plans for the expulsion of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. This proposal has been widely condemned as a potential war crime.
Context
During a conference hosted by the Israeli news site Ynet and the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Katz emphasized that there is "no real solution for Gaza in the end without this migration." He asserted that the Israeli government is "organised and prepared to get them out by sea, by air, by every way possible."
Developments
Trump had previously discussed a US takeover of the Gaza Strip in early 2025, which would involve the removal of Palestinians from the territory. However, he has since retracted from this idea. A 20-point peace plan drafted by the White House last year did not include provisions for the deportation of Palestinians, an act that would be perceived as ethnic cleansing.
Katz expressed his belief that US support could influence regional opinion in favor of the forced resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza. He stated, "Every country that is willing to take them in wants American backing." He noted that Trump has not canceled this plan but has merely frozen it.
