JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that Palestinians in the Gaza Strip will be given the option to leave the territory as Israel prepares to expand its military operations. The move, he emphasized, would be voluntary, not forced.
In an interview with Israeli broadcaster i24NEWS, Netanyahu stated:
“Give them the opportunity to leave — first of all, to leave combat zones, and generally to leave the territory, if they want.”
He compared the situation to other global conflicts, citing refugee flows during the wars in Syria, Ukraine, and Afghanistan.
Netanyahu said Palestinians would be permitted to relocate within Gaza to avoid combat zones and could also be allowed to leave Gaza entirely. However, Israel has historically maintained strict control over Gaza’s borders, with limited movement allowed in or out of the enclave.
The announcement comes amid escalating preparations for Israel’s expanded military offensive into remaining parts of Gaza still outside its control. The ongoing conflict was sparked by Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, which has since displaced the majority of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents.
Proposals to relocate Palestinians outside Gaza have faced widespread condemnation. Palestinian leaders and international human rights groups have drawn comparisons to the 1948 Nakba, during which hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced during the formation of the Israeli state.
Earlier this year, U.S. President Donald Trump provoked backlash by suggesting the United States could take control of Gaza and expel its population to Egypt and Jordan. Netanyahu has previously said his government is considering third countries that could receive Gaza residents, adding that the territory could later be redeveloped into a holiday destination.
Within Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, several members have pushed for facilitating the “voluntary” departure of Palestinians from Gaza. Last week, Israel’s security cabinet approved plans to expand operations into uncontrolled areas of the territory.
While Netanyahu insists any movement would be optional, critics argue the mounting military pressure leaves civilians with little real choice, raising fresh concerns over forced displacement under the guise of voluntary relocation.
