Israel orders army to plan to let Palestinians leave Gaza

Israel’s defense minister has ordered the military to draft a plan for voluntary departures from Gaza, a day after former U.S. President Donald Trump proposed relocating Palestinians out of the war-torn territory.

The announcement by Israel Katz on Thursday came after Trump floated the idea of moving Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, calling it a “bold” plan.

The proposal was widely condemned, with the United Nations warning that any forced displacement would amount to ethnic cleansing.

Katz said he directed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to prepare exit routes for Gaza residents willing to leave, including via land crossings, air, and sea.

"The plan will include exit options through land crossings, as well as special arrangements for departure by sea and air," Katz said.

He argued that the plan could help Gazans integrate into host countries while facilitating reconstruction efforts for a demilitarized Gaza.

Trump's suggestions

Speaking at a joint press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, Trump shocked observers by suggesting the U.S. should "own" Gaza and manage it.

"The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it, too," Trump said. "We'll own it."

The Trump administration later walked back the comments, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying any relocation of Palestinians would be temporary. The White House also denied any commitment to sending U.S. troops.

Palestinian leaders swiftly denounced the proposal. President Mahmoud Abbas called it a "serious violation" of international law, while Hamas branded it "racist and aggressive."

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that any forced displacement of Palestinians would be "tantamount to ethnic cleansing."

"The right of Palestinians to simply live as human beings in their own land is non-negotiable," Guterres said.

While Netanyahu hailed Trump as Israel’s “greatest friend”, some Israelis doubted the plan’s feasibility.

"I really like what he said, but it’s hard for me to believe it will happen," said Refael, a 65-year-old Jerusalem resident.

Gaza’s future uncertain

With most of Gaza in ruins following Israel’s offensive, many Palestinians insist they will not leave.

"They can do whatever they want, but we will remain steadfast in our homeland," said Ahmed Halasa, a 41-year-old Gaza resident.

Trump suggested he might visit Gaza, but it remains unclear whether any country would accept displaced Palestinians. Egypt and Jordan have already rejected the idea of resettling Gazans.

The war, triggered by Hamas’s deadly October 7 attack on Israel, has left much of Gaza’s civil infrastructure destroyed. Human Rights Watch has accused Israel of deliberately making Gaza unlivable, a charge Israeli officials deny.

The situation remains volatile as Israel finalizes its "voluntary departure" plan in the coming weeks.