Speaking at an event hosted by Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper and Ynet news site on 2/9, Israeli Defense Minister Katz stated that the plan to "facilitate" Palestinians leaving the Gaza Strip remains under discussion, having been temporarily shelved rather than entirely canceled.

"Ultimately, there is no real solution for Gaza without this migration", Katz said, revealing that the Israeli government "has planned to move people out of the area by sea, air, and every possible means".

Gaza City residents evacuating the city on 19/9/2025. Photo: AFP

He stated that surveys indicate about 80% of Gaza residents wish to leave the territory, though he did not specify the source of this data.

According to Katz, the main obstacle currently is that other nations are not ready to accept Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. He believes United States support, particularly from US President Donald Trump, could persuade neighboring countries to agree.

"Every nation willing to accept them wants US backing. President Trump has not canceled this plan; he has only frozen it", Katz said, asserting that the idea of relocating Palestinians from the Gaza Strip is still discussed "all the time, even now".

Israeli army tanks in the area adjacent to the Gaza Strip on 20/5/2025. Photo: AFP

In 2/2025, President Trump had supported the idea of relocating about 2,3 million Gaza residents elsewhere and developing the territory into a luxury resort. Israel subsequently established an agency under the Ministry of Defense to facilitate what its officials called "voluntary migration" from the Gaza Strip.

The plan met strong opposition from regional countries, including Egypt and the Palestinian Authority. President Trump later withdrew the proposal amidst international pressure and the reality that few nations were willing to accept Gazans. A US-backed peace plan for Gaza introduced in 10/2025 called for "encouraging residents to stay and giving them the opportunity to build a better Gaza".

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited an Israeli military outpost near the "Yellow Line" in the Gaza Strip on 2/9, reiterating that Israel has no intention of withdrawing troops from the territories it controls. He also stated that Israel currently controls 60% of the Gaza Strip and will continue to expand operations.

Prime Minister Netanyahu declared that Israel is taking all necessary measures to "disarm Hamas and demilitarize Gaza", ensuring the territory no longer poses a threat to Israel.

Location of the Gaza Strip and areas controlled by the Israeli military. Graphic: BBC

The conditions for Israel's troop withdrawal and an end to airstrikes in Gaza are key points of contention in the US-backed negotiation efforts between Israel and Hamas.

The armed movement in the Gaza Strip has agreed to a phased disarmament framework linked to Israel's gradual troop withdrawal in stages, while Tel Aviv wants to maintain a military presence until Hamas is confirmed to be fully disarmed.

The war, which erupted on 7/10/2023, has left most Gaza residents displaced. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, the conflict has resulted in over 73,400 deaths, with more than 1,330 cases recorded since the October 2025 ceasefire.

Thanh Danh (According to Times of Israel, Guardian)