Israel is “organised and prepared” to remove Palestinians from Gaza “by every way possible” if the United States gives the green light, Defence Minister Israel Katz has said.

Katz claimed there was no lasting “solution” to the crisis without population transfer and said Israel was waiting for Washington to determine where displaced Gazans could go.

Katz says removal plans are ready

Speaking at a conference hosted by Ynet and Yedioth Ahronoth, Katz said Israel could move Palestinians from Gaza “by sea, by air, by every way possible”.

He said the proposal had not been abandoned and was still being discussed, despite President Donald Trump’s October ceasefire plan explicitly including no forced displacement.

Katz argued that the idea had effectively been “frozen” while Washington searched for countries willing to accept Palestinians. Egypt, which borders Gaza, has rejected the proposal.

Trump’s Gaza vision sparked global backlash

Trump caused international alarm earlier in his second term when he proposed removing Gaza’s roughly two million Palestinians and transforming the devastated territory into a luxury Mediterranean destination.

The plan triggered fierce opposition, including from Egypt and Palestinians who compared any forced removal with the Nakba — the mass displacement associated with Israel’s creation in 1948.

Katz said approval from Washington would depend on whether Hamas was judged to be meeting its ceasefire obligations.

Forced displacement warning raises stakes

Katz also claimed, without citing a source, that 80 per cent of Gazans wanted to leave and that Hamas was preventing them.

Forced displacement of civilians in occupied territory is considered a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes, allegations rejected by Israel and the US.

The Gaza health ministry, which operates under Hamas, says Israel’s offensive has killed 73,470 people, including more than 1,330 since the ceasefire. The war followed the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, in which 1,221 people were killed according to Israeli figures.

Israel ‘organised and prepared’ to remove Gaza population if US gives green light, Katz says

Gentrification is a straightforward way to enhance an area.

Operation ‘Heimat’, by any other name.