Israel is actively seeking the support of President Donald Trump to authorize a plan that involves the expulsion of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. The country’s defence minister, Israel Katz, spoke about the strategy during a conference hosted by Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth, The Guardian reported. He made it clear that the government is fully prepared to facilitate this movement, stating that the state is “organised and prepared to get them out by sea, by air, by every way possible”.
Katz believes that securing approval from the President is the missing piece of the puzzle to convince neighboring nations to accept Palestinian refugees. He argued that securing this support could shift regional perspectives in favor of forced resettlement. He noted that “Every country that is willing to take them in wants American backing,” and claimed that the idea has not been abandoned by the administration.
Katz specifically pointed to Egypt, which has previously lobbied Washington to oppose the removal of the population. He insisted that the proposal remains a frequent topic of conversation, saying, “It has not been cancelled. It is being discussed all the time, including now, and I think there is no other solution in the end that is in everyone’s interest.”
This push for expulsion comes as the political climate in Israel remains highly competitive
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing allies are currently appealing to voters by calling for increasingly aggressive measures against Palestinians. As part of this broader approach, the national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has taken a particularly harsh stance on prisoner conditions.
Ben-Gvir recently shared footage on X from a women’s prison, taking personal credit for the environment inside the facility. When a prisoner confronted him about the lack of medical care, clean clothing, and showering facilities, Ben-Gvir responded, “The good conditions in the prisons are over. This is the current situation, and I am directly responsible for everything. I am pleased with these conditions.”
The situation on the ground remains tense as military operations continue. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Netanyahu visited an Israeli military post near the yellow line in the Gaza Strip. He reaffirmed that the military would not retreat from its current positions until specific security goals are met.
Regarding the ongoing military presence, Netanyahu said, “We control the territory and are staying on this line. We are doing everything to achieve our goal – disarming Hamas and demilitarising Gaza. Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.”
While the administration previously explored the possibility of a US takeover of the Gaza Strip involving the removal of Palestinians in early 2025, the President has since pulled back from that specific plan. A 20-point peace plan created by the White House last year notably lacked any call for the deportation of Palestinians.
When asked whether the President is continuing to hold discussions regarding Israel’s proposals for the forced depopulation of the territory, the White House did not immediately provide a response.
Katz maintains that the plan is currently frozen rather than canceled, emphasizing that there is “no real solution for Gaza in the end without this migration.”
Published: Sep 3, 2026 01:30 pm