Israel’s defence minister has said the country is seeking Donald Trump’s support to approve plans to expel Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, a move that has been widely condemned as a potential war crime. Israel Katz made the remarks during an event hosted by Israeli news outlet Ynet and the newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. He said there was “no real solution for Gaza in the end without this migration” and that Israel’s government was “organised and prepared to get them out by sea, by air, by every way possible”. Trump’s Role Under ScrutinyKatz said on Wednesday he believed backing from the United States could shift regional sentiment in favour of forced resettlement of Palestinians from Gaza. He added that Trump’s position would be important in persuading neighbouring countries to accept Palestinian refugees. “Every country that is willing to take them in wants American backing,” Katz said, adding: “Trump has not cancelled this at the moment. He has frozen it.” In early 2025, Trump had discussed a US takeover of Gaza that would have involved removing Palestinians from the territory, but he later stepped back from the proposal. A 20-point peace plan drawn up by the White House last year did not call for deportation, an act widely seen as ethnic cleansing. The White House did not immediately respond to a request from the Guardian for comment on whether Trump was continuing discussions on Israel’s proposals to forcibly depopulate Gaza. Egypt Cited As A Key OpponentKatz pointed in particular to Egypt, which he said had lobbied Washington against forced removal of the Palestinian population. He said the issue had not been dropped. “It has not been cancelled,” he said. “It is being discussed all the time, including now, and I think there is no other solution in the end that is in everyone’s interest.” The remarks come as Israel prepares for a competitive election season, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and rightwing allies campaigning on tougher measures towards Palestinians. Ben-Gvir Links Prison Conditions To Political MessageDuring the same period, some Israeli officials have made comments and posted content that critics say reflect a hardline approach. Far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shared footage on X from a women’s prison, where he said he was responsible for conditions in the facility. The post included comments attributed to Ben-Gvir after a prisoner told him they were not receiving medical care, were not showering and were not being given clean clothing. Ben-Gvir said: “The good conditions in the prisons are over. This is the current situation, and I am directly responsible for everything. I am pleased with these conditions.” Neither the remarks nor the footage were independently verified in the report. Gaza “Yellow Line” And Hamas DisarmamentNetanyahu visited an Israeli military post close to the yellow line in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. Israel has said it would not withdraw from that line until Hamas disarmed, even as calls have been made for a phased pullback to support a recent ceasefire with the group. “We control the territory and are staying on this line,” Netanyahu said. “We are doing everything to achieve our goal – disarming Hamas and demilitarising Gaza. Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel.” Join the discussion? 3 September 2026
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