Two Israeli ministers floated proposals this week for the mass removal of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, resurfacing an idea voiced repeatedly by right-wing politicians over the past three years as they seek to rally supporters ahead of an election.
The calls by two of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political allies have revived Palestinian fears that Israel ultimately aims to forcibly expel them from Gaza despite US-led diplomatic efforts to end the conflict there.
Far-right security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir laid out a seven-year plan for removing Gaza’s population through “voluntary emigration” during a press conference on Thursday night. He said he would seek the creation of a “ministry in charge of emigration” in the next government.
Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party said in a statement on Thursday that Turkey, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo were being considered as potential destinations.
Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of Gaza’s government media office, said, “The Palestinian people are deeply rooted in their land and will not be intimidated by such threats.”
