Netanyahu Threatens: Voluntary Emigration from Gaza within Weeks
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An Israeli report revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed National Security Minister Etmar Ben Gvir that the implementation of the "voluntary emigration" plan for Gaza residents will take place within weeks if the ongoing negotiations fail.
According to the "Yedioth Ahronoth" newspaper, Netanyahu is seeking to expedite this plan to maintain Ben Gvir's support and his party within the government coalition, following criticism from him regarding the handling of the Gaza file.
The newspaper explained that Netanyahu ordered holding regular weekly meetings on this issue, distributed authorities among various agencies to expedite procedures, and asked the Mossad to intensify talks with countries that may accommodate Gazans, without revealing the names of those countries so far.
Meanwhile, Ben Gvir continued his attack on the government, appearing in a video condemning sending humanitarian aid to the sector, saying: "This is a moral bankruptcy. While our hostages are in Gaza, the government sends aid instead of sending bombs, invading, encouraging emigration, and winning the war."
He also considered the decision to increase aid as "surrender to Hamas", expressing his displeasure at being excluded from discussions related to this issue, describing it as "extremely dangerous".
These statements come days after repeated hints from US President Donald Trump about displacing Gaza residents to neighboring countries.
Trump had raised this idea since taking office in January 2025, suggesting that Egypt and Jordan receive part of the sector's population, despite public rejection from both sides, and international criticism describing these proposals as reaching the level of "ethnic cleansing".
Trump reiterated the idea several times at the end of January, confirming his belief that there are countries that may agree to the plan, which Netanyahu later confirmed by saying, "We are close to finding several countries."
These developments raise widespread concern among Palestinians who see these plans as a direct threat to repeating the Nakba scenario, amid uncertainty about the identity of the countries involved, and whether these plans will receive international support or face further rejection and condemnation.
