Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has acknowledged that his government remains committed to the removal of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. Speaking at a conference hosted by the publication Ynet on Wednesday, Katz characterized the depopulation of the territory—often referred to by officials using terms like “migration” or “immigration”—as the “only solution” for the region.
Katz stated that while the plan is currently on hold, it has not been abandoned. “At the moment, Trump has not canceled it; he has frozen it,” he remarked, adding that the proposal is a subject of ongoing discussion within the Israeli government. He expressed confidence that the initiative would eventually proceed with American support, asserting that there is no alternative path for Gaza’s future.
The concept of depopulating the enclave has been a long-standing objective for some far-right Israeli officials. Early in his presidency, US President Donald Trump supported the idea, suggesting the United States could take control of the territory once Palestinians were removed. However, Trump later sponsored a 12-point ceasefire agreement that explicitly guaranteed the right of Palestinians to remain on their land, stating that no one would be forced to leave and those who did depart would be free to return.
Since the ceasefire took effect in October 2025, the situation on the ground has remained dire. Israel has continued to restrict the flow of aid and block reconstruction efforts while maintaining near-daily military operations. Despite Katz’s assertion that Israel is prepared to secure Gaza by air, sea, or other means, Egypt has consistently refused to accept Palestinian refugees.
The international response to these developments has been critical. US Senator Chris Van Hollen, who visited the Gaza-Egypt border last year alongside Senator Jeff Merkley, noted that they had previously warned of an Israeli strategy to ethnically cleanse the area. “Now the Israeli Minister of Defense confirmed that’s the goal,” Van Hollen stated on social media, calling for an end to US complicity.
The United States has provided approximately $25 billion in military aid to Israel over the past three years. Washington has also shielded the Israeli government in international forums, including the implementation of sanctions against officials from the International Criminal Court who were investigating alleged atrocities in Gaza.
In July, the US attempted to broker a process involving the disarmament of Hamas and an eventual Israeli withdrawal. Israel rejected this proposal, maintaining that it would not offer concessions until the territory was fully demilitarized. As the conflict persists, the debate over the long-term status of Gaza’s population remains a central point of contention between Israeli officials and their international counterparts. The report also notes that including governments allied with Washington, the proposal was met with outrage from Middle Eastern countries. The report also notes that “We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.”. The report also notes that katz said the ethnic cleansing plan is “being discussed all the time”. The report also notes that “I think that ultimately there is no other solution, for everyone’s benefit. The report also notes that we need the United States, and the moment will come,” he added, but for that to happen.