Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced on Thursday, February 6, that the Israeli army has a planned facilitation for the voluntary exodus of the Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel Katz said, “I have ordered the IDF to prepare a program that will make possible the voluntary departure of residents of Gaza.” He explained this program would involve allowing any person living in Gaza who wanted to leave to leave and find another country that would take them in.
This will include exit passage through the ground crossings and all special sea or air exit special arrangements. As Katz says: “The whole thing may put the civilians within Gaza to play a much integrating role into countries hosting them toward an effective model of a productive reconstruction process concerning a demilitarized or secure Gaza, “.
When asked to specify which countries could host the departing Palestinians, Katz listed countries that have criticized Israel’s military operations in Gaza. “Countries like Spain, Ireland, Norway, and others, which have made accusations against Israel regarding its actions in Gaza, are legally obligated to allow any Gaza resident to enter their territories,” he said, adding their refusal would expose their hypocrisy.
Katz noted that other countries, such as Canada, which has a more formal immigration process, have offered in the past to take in Gaza residents. This was announced a week after US President Donald Trump on February 4 said, “we could take over the Gaza Strip,” and the idea faced instant condemnation by world leaders and Palestinians. Katz praised Trump for his “courageous plan” and asserted that it “could allow a significant number of Gaza residents to emigrate” to many countries around the world.
Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich praised Katz’s announcement, welcoming the decision to prepare for the migration plan and facilitate the departure of Gazans to receiving countries.
The audible gasps were heard when Trump said during a press conference in the White House that “the US will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it.” In fact, the United Nations labeled the idea as an act of “ethnic cleansing.”.
