Israel has cleared a controversial plan to encourage voluntary emigration from Gaza, a move that has sparked widespread international criticism. The Israeli security cabinet approved the proposal to establish an organisation with the mandate to facilitate the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to other countries.
Israeli leaders say the decision has been taken keeping in mind the plan endorsed by US President Donald Trump to expel Gazans to other countries and redevelop the Gaza Strip. Defence Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich appear to be spearheading the plan, saying it would offer Gazans an opportunity to escape from the war-torn enclave and its enduring humanitarian challenges.
"Occupation, Settlements and encourage Palestinians to 'migrate'"
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Israeli far-right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announces his proposed solutions to the "Gaza Problem," which include the continuation of occupation, the construction of Jewish settlements, and the pursuit of… pic.twitter.com/96D1C4IUFq
The newly established Voluntary Emigration Bureau, operating under the Defence Ministry, will manage the logistics of this process. It will coordinate the controlled movement of Palestinians through Israel, providing security escorts, establishing pedestrian checkpoints at Gaza crossings and developing infrastructure for land, sea and air transit to destination countries.
The bureau will comprise representatives from multiple Israeli ministries—including justice, foreign affairs, and finance—along with the Israel Defence Forces, Shin Bet and the National Security Council. It will also collaborate with international organisations to streamline operations.
In its initial phase, the plan saw 70 Gazans with foreign citizenship or ties abroad depart from Ramon Airport near Eilat on a Romanian military plane bound for Europe on March 19, marking a controversial step in Israel’s emigration policy.
The proposal has been framed by Israeli officials as a response to Trump’s vision of transforming Gaza into a Middle Eastern “Riviera” by resettling its over two million Palestinian residents, primarily in Egypt and Jordan. Smotrich suggested an ambitious target of relocating 10,000 Gazans daily, insisting that funding will not be a barrier. Katz has echoed this sentiment, stating that any Gazan wishing to move to a third country will be supported in a “safe and supervised” manner, in accordance with Israeli and international law.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also expressed commitment to this “different Gaza,” envisioning a future without Hamas or the Palestinian Authority in control.
However, the plan has ignited fierce global backlash. Critics, including Palestinian leaders and Arab negotiators, argue that mass displacement during an active conflict risks amounting to ethnic cleansing—a charge Israeli officials vehemently deny, emphasising the voluntary nature of the programme.
Saudi Arabia has been the first country to publicly condemn the initiative, and many others are likely to follow. No country has yet formally agreed to accept significant numbers of Gazan refugees. Somaliland, a self-declared state unrecognised by the UN, has hinted at openness to discussions, but only with nations recognising its legitimacy.
The timing of the rollout interestingly coincides with Israel abandoning the truce it signed with Hamas and restarting massive bombing campaigns and ground incursions in Gaza, resulting in hundreds of casualties. And now, what began as a fantasy of far-right fringe groups has gained remarkable traction, although its feasibility and ethical implications remain controversial.
