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el's Defence Minister Israel Katz ordered the IDF on January 6 to develop a plan facilitating voluntary emigration from Gaza, following US President Donald Trump's recent proposal to relocate Gaza residents permanently.
US President Donald Trump announced plans for American control and redevelopment of the Gaza Strip following his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on January 4.
During Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's White House visit, Trump described Gaza as looking “like hell”. He went on to suggest that its residents would leave if given the opportunity, explicitly stating he was “talking about moving the Palestinians out of Gaza forever.”
“I welcome US President Trump's bold plan,” Katz stated, as quoted by Israel’s N12 television.
“Gaza residents should be allowed to enjoy the freedom of exit and migration as is practised everywhere in the world. Hamas used Gaza residents as human shields and built terror infrastructures in the heart of the population, and is now holding them hostage, extorting money from them using humanitarian aid, and preventing their exit from Gaza.”
The proposed plan would establish multiple exit routes, including land crossings, sea routes, and air transportation. Katz specifically called out countries that have criticised Israel's military operations in Gaza, suggesting they have a legal obligation to accept Gaza residents seeking relocation.
Katz highlighted potential destination countries, noting that Canada, with its established immigration program, had previously expressed interest in accepting Gaza residents. The defence minister envisions the plan as part of a broader strategy for Gaza's reconstruction in what he termed the “post-Hamas era.”
The proposal appears to be packaged as a method to facilitate both voluntary emigration and the eventual reconstruction of a demilitarised Gaza, though implementation details have yet to be revealed.
In addition to potential roadblocks to implementation, the Trump administration may also need to navigate international opposition to successfully implement this daring initiative.
When questioned about potential US military deployment to fill any security vacuum, Trump left the possibility open, stating: “As far as Gaza is concerned, we'll do what is necessary. If it's necessary, we'll do that.”
“I do see a long-term ownership position, and I see it bringing great stability to that part of the Middle East, and maybe the entire Middle East,” Trump explained. “This was not a decision made lightly. Everybody I’ve spoken to loves the idea of the United States owning that piece of land, developing and creating thousands of jobs with something that will be magnificent.”
“Look, the Gaza thing has not worked. It's never worked. And I feel very differently about Gaza than a lot of people. I think they should get a good, fresh, beautiful piece of land, and we get some people to put up the money to build it and make it nice and make it habitable and enjoyable,” Trump had previously stated regarding the living conditions of Gazans following the war with Israel.
Trump says Gaza would be ‘turned over’ to US by Israel
Last updated: February 06, 2025 |
AFP
WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Gaza would be “turned over” by Israel to the United States when the conflict is over, and no soldiers would be needed for his subsequent takeover and redevelopment plan.
Trump doubled down on the shock plan he first announced on Tuesday - and on his plan to resettle two million Palestinians elsewhere from Gaza in the Middle East - on his Truth Social network.
“The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting,” Trump said in an early morning post.
Also Read: Trump’s shocking Gaza takeover plan sparks global outrage
“No soldiers by the US would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!”
Trump stunned the world by announcing during a joint press conference with visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Tuesday that “the US will take over the Gaza Strip.”
“We will do a job with it, too. We’ll own it,” he said to audible gasps during the press conference, saying the United States would remove unexploded bombs and rubble and rebuild the war-torn enclave.
But he offered few details and his administration appeared to backtrack Wednesday after facing a wave of criticism from Palestinians, Arab governments and world leaders.
Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the idea “was not meant to be hostile,” while the White House said there was no commitment to sending US troops and that any displacement of Palestinians would be “temporary.”
The Republican president however showed Thursday that he still wanted to press ahead with the plan as he had originally announced it, including the mass displacement of Palestinians.
Trump said that by the time of his planned handover by Israel to the United States Palestinians “would have already been resettled in far safer and more beautiful communities, with new and modern homes, in the region.”
“They would actually have a chance to be happy, safe, and free,” Trump added.
“The US, working with great development teams from all over the World, would slowly and carefully begin the construction of what would become one of the greatest and most spectacular developments of its kind on Earth.”
Trump had given mixed signals on Tuesday who would inhabit his planned post-war Gaza, saying it would be “the world’s people” but that “also, Palestinians would live there.”
The New York Times reported on Thursday that Trump had surprised both his own staff and the Israelis with the “hastily-written” plan for Gaza, with no discussions with the Pentagon or the State Department.
Israel’s defence minister meanwhile ordered the army on Thursday to prepare for “voluntary” departures from Gaza, following Trump’s remarks.
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