Israel's defence minister has declared his commitment to the ethnic cleansing of Gaza through large-scale Palestinian migration as part of long-term plans for the territory. Israel Katz stated on Wednesday that the government would implement a plan for mass departures of Palestinians from Gaza "at the right time and in the right manner," marking the targeted killing of Hamas commander Mohammed Odeh.
This push for mass departures contradicts Donald Trump's ceasefire plan for Gaza, which Israel signed last year. The plan's second point states: "Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough." Israel's government has promoted the prospect of a Gaza without Palestinians since Trump suggested last year that hundreds of thousands should leave to "clean out" the strip for reconstruction.
Last year, Israel established a bureau for "voluntary emigration" and eased travel restrictions for Palestinians seeking a one-way journey out. However, forced transfer of civilian populations is a war crime and crime against humanity. Israeli officials, including Katz, use the term "voluntary migration" to describe plans for large numbers of Palestinians to leave Gaza.
Human rights organisations and lawyers in Israel warn that conditions imposed on Gaza make any departure involuntary, constituting planning for ethnic cleansing. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel stated last year: "Creating living conditions that do not allow for survival, freedom and dignity, and subjecting civilians to them until they say they want to leave is not a plan for 'encouraging voluntary emigration' but a plan for forced evacuation and expulsion."
Katz said mass departure would coincide with excluding Hamas from power. "We committed that Hamas will not rule Gaza civilly or militarily, and so it shall be, and also the voluntary emigration plan from Gaza will be implemented," he posted on social media. "Everything at the right timing and in the right manner." Katz's spokesperson did not respond to questions about Israel's commitment to Trump's ceasefire terms.
With an election due by October, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and allies are courting voters, said Mairav Zonszein, senior analyst on Israel-Palestine at the International Crisis Group. "Because we are looking at an extension of the ceasefire and de-escalation in Iran and Lebanon, Israel – and Netanyahu specifically – will seek ways to show action on the security front, meaning exercising military power," she said. "Unfortunately, talking about ethnic cleansing in Gaza is not necessarily something that will hurt you in domestic politics. In fact, it might even help you."
