Netanyahu firm on Gaza plan, ignoring Arab leaders as Israeli minister demands Hamas' surrender
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his commitment to a United States proposal that would see the Gaza Strip taken over by the US, with plans to displace Palestinian residents.
As Washington’s top diplomat, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, pushed the plan during a visit to Saudi Arabia, Netanyahu declared his backing for what he described as a “different Gaza” under the framework of US President Donald Trump’s vision.
This plan, which would end Palestinian governance of the enclave, is being met with widespread opposition from Arab states, while human rights groups have condemned it as a violation of international law and a form of ethnic cleansing.
In support of the initiative, Israel's Defence Minister, Israel Katz, announced the creation of a special directorate aimed at facilitating the “voluntary departure” of Palestinians from Gaza. A proposal from Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) suggests that residents willing to emigrate would be offered extensive assistance, including special departure arrangements by sea, air, and land. Katz’s office confirmed that such measures would be put in place to help Gaza residents leave for third-party countries.
While Netanyahu and Katz have openly supported the plan, Israel's far-right Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, has called for Hamas militants to surrender their arms and leave Gaza.
Smotrich, a vocal advocate for continuing military operations against Hamas, demanded that the Israeli government issue an ultimatum to the group, threatening severe action if it refused. His statements come ahead of a cabinet meeting focused on the next phase of the ceasefire with Hamas, and he has threatened to leave Netanyahu’s coalition if the war is not resumed after the first stage of the truce.
Trump’s plan has been widely denounced in the Arab world, and its call for the resettlement of Palestinians in countries like Egypt and Jordan has provoked international outrage.
Smotrich has called for a “complete conquest” of Gaza, urging Israel to establish full sovereignty over parts of the territory and halt all humanitarian aid once the conflict resumes. He also argued that Gaza residents would be allowed to leave, but under conditions that would prevent their return, further escalating tensions in the region.