Israel’s plan for a voluntary Gaza exodus faces international backlash and accusations of ethnic cleansing.
At a Glance
- Israeli Defense Minister orders military to draft plan for Gazans to voluntarily leave the enclave
- Plan includes exit options via land, sea, and air, but lacks details on destinations or possibility of return
- Neighboring countries and world powers hesitant to accept displaced Gazans
- Critics, including Human Rights Watch, warn the plan could amount to “ethnic cleansing”
- Trump administration suggests temporary relocation, but details remain unclear
Israel’s Controversial Proposal
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has instructed the military to prepare a plan facilitating the voluntary departure of Palestinians from Gaza. The proposal, which includes “special arrangements for exit by sea and air,” has sparked international outcry and raised concerns about potential ethnic cleansing.
The plan, which dovetails with a broader proposal by President Trump for Palestinian resettlement, has been met with significant opposition from neighboring countries and human rights organizations. Critics argue that the lack of details regarding the migrants’ destinations or the possibility of future return makes the plan deeply problematic.
International Backlash
Egypt, a key player in the region, has diplomatically opposed the proposal, warning that it could jeopardize its peace deal with Israel. The country’s main state-run daily, Al-Ahram, echoed these concerns, stating, “The Arab countries’ independence, their peoples’ unity and their territorial integrity are under grave threat.”
“It is a fantasy to think that ethnic cleansing in the 21st century can be condoned,” Turki al-Faisal, former Saudi intelligence Chief, said.
Human Rights Watch and other groups have also criticized the plan, warning that it could amount to “ethnic cleansing.” The international community, including Spain and Norway, has largely dismissed the proposal, with Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares affirming that “Gazans’ land is Gaza and Gaza must be part of the future Palestinian state.”
Israeli Perspective
Despite the international backlash, elements of Israel’s far-right have celebrated the proposal. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that Gazans could “relocate and come back” if necessary, while some government members advocate for indefinite Israeli rule and settlement in Gaza.
“The actual idea of allowing Gazans who want to leave to leave — I mean, what’s wrong with that? They can leave, they can then come back,” Netanyahu said.
However, the proposal faces significant hurdles. Neighboring countries like Egypt and Jordan are reluctant to accept Gazans, viewing them as an economic and political burden. Furthermore, many Gazans have expressed their intention to stay in their homeland, despite the ongoing hardships and conflict.
The proposed exodus plan touches on deep-seated historical traumas for Palestinians, recalling the displacement during Israel’s establishment in 1948. The current situation in Gaza, where residents have been largely trapped with limited opportunities to leave, further complicates the issue.
