Israel’s National Security Council has convened an urgent meeting to revive plans for the so-called “voluntary migration” of Palestinians from Gaza, despite senior officials warning that no country has agreed to take in Palestinians from the besieged enclave, Haaretz has reported.
According to the Israeli newspaper, Shmuel Ben Ezra, the new head of Israel’s National Security Council, summoned senior defence establishment officials this week to discuss “encouraging the voluntary emigration” of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. The meeting is said to have been attended by officials from the Israeli army, Shin Bet and Mossad, who reportedly said there had been no practical progress on the plan.
The renewed push comes as Israel’s genocide has devastated Gaza, displaced almost the entire population and generated growing accusations that Tel Aviv is using starvation, siege, bombardment and destruction to force Palestinians out under the cover of “voluntary” departure.
Mossad representatives told the meeting that no countries had been found that were willing to receive Palestinians from Gaza, Haaretz reported. Officials were said to have been surprised that Ben Ezra raised the issue again at short notice, given that it had already been discussed several times without any progress.
