Israeli defense minister orders army to plan Palestinian exodus from Gaza

Israel has announced that it has begun preparations for the large-scale departure of Palestinians from Gaza, aligning with President Donald Trump’s controversial proposal for the region. Meanwhile, Egypt has intensified diplomatic efforts behind the scenes to counter the plan.

Palestinian officials, along with much of the international community, have rejected Trump’s proposal, fearing it will prevent refugees from returning and further destabilize the region. Egypt has warned that such a move could jeopardize its long-standing peace treaty with Israel, which has been a pillar of stability in the Middle East and a key factor in American influence in the region.

Saudi Arabia, another crucial U.S. ally, has also voiced its opposition to any mass transfer of Palestinians. The kingdom insists that normalization of relations with Israel—one of the main objectives of the Trump administration—will only happen if a Palestinian state is established, including Gaza.

Palestinians have been clear that they do not want to leave. Human Rights Watch and other advocacy groups argue that implementing Trump’s plan would constitute “ethnic cleansing,” as it involves the forced displacement of a civilian population.

Israeli officials, on the other hand, have framed the potential mass emigration as voluntary. Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that he has instructed the military to prepare for facilitating the departure of large numbers of Palestinians through land crossings, as well as exploring options for exit via sea and air. However, no visible signs of such preparations have been observed on the ground.

Egypt’s Efforts to Block the Plan

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi has not publicly addressed Trump’s announcement regarding the relocation of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents and U.S. involvement in rebuilding efforts. However, Egyptian officials, speaking anonymously due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, confirmed that Cairo has strongly opposed the proposal in talks with the Trump administration and Israel. Egypt has warned that the long-standing peace agreement with Israel could be at risk if such a plan moves forward.

Officials have communicated this stance to the U.S. government, including the Pentagon, State Department, and members of Congress. Additionally, Egypt has relayed its concerns to Israel and key Western European allies such as the UK, France, and Germany. A Western diplomat stationed in Cairo confirmed receiving Egypt’s message, emphasizing that the country considers the plan a direct threat to its national security.

Egypt had already rejected similar proposals from the Biden administration and European nations earlier in the war, which escalated after Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel. Unlike those earlier, more private discussions, Trump publicly announced his plan alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a White House press conference.

After widespread criticism from Palestinians, Arab governments, and international leaders, the Trump administration appeared to scale back the proposal. U.S. officials clarified that any relocation of Gazans would be temporary and that Trump had not committed to deploying American troops or using U.S. tax dollars to rebuild Gaza.

Egyptian officials maintain that Palestinians do not need to be displaced for reconstruction efforts to proceed. They reaffirmed their commitment to establishing a Palestinian state that includes Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem—territories seized by Israel in the 1967 war. However, Israel has opposed Palestinian statehood, insisting on maintaining indefinite security control over both Gaza and the West Bank. Furthermore, Israel annexed East Jerusalem, a move unrecognized by most of the international community.

Arab States Reject Forced Transfers

Last week, Egypt hosted a high-level meeting with diplomats from Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates—key players in the 2020 Abraham Accords, which normalized ties between Israel and several Arab nations. The five nations collectively rejected any forced relocation of Palestinians from Gaza or the West Bank.

In an editorial published on Thursday, Egypt’s state-run newspaper Al-Ahram warned that “the independence of Arab nations, the unity of their peoples, and their territorial sovereignty are under severe threat,” underscoring the regional opposition to Trump’s proposal.