Forcibly displaced Palestinians. Photo: UNICEF/Eyad El Baba.
“Israel”âs security cabinet unanimously approved a new military plan on 5 May to expand operations in Gaza, including the âconquestâ of the territory and promotion of the âvoluntary migrationâ of its population, according to multiple Israeli officials and political sources.
âThe plan will include, among other things, the conquest of the Gaza Strip and the holding of the territories, moving the Gaza population south for their protection,â an “Israeli” official speaking with AFP said.
The decision marks a significant escalation in “Israel”âs war strategy and comes amid a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more than 52,000 people have been killed since October 2023, according to Palestinian health authorities.
The approved plan includes several core elements: the occupation of the Gaza Strip, military control over its territory, and the forced relocation of hundreds of thousands of civilians to southern Gaza.
According to political sources cited by AFP, “Israeli” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is continuing to promote a revival of former US President Donald Trumpâs proposal for the âvoluntary migrationâ of Gazans to neighboring countries, including Egypt and Jordan.
However, the Trump plan is not new and is based on previous “Israeli” plans to ethnically cleanse Gaza.
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According to leaked documents published by “Israeli” culture magazine Mekomit in October 2023, just days after the 7 October Hamas attack on Israeli settlements and military bases, “Israel”âs Ministry of Intelligence had already identified the complete transfer of Gazaâs 2.3 million residents to Egyptâs Sinai Peninsula as the âpreferred optionâ among three future scenarios. The plan called for establishing tent and permanent cities in northern Sinai and creating a closed security zone inside Egyptian territory to prevent Palestinians from returning near the Israeli border.
Two Israeli officials told the AP that the plan approved Monday will be implemented gradually and includes continued military strikes aimed at weakening Hamas and securing the release of “Israeli” hostages. The cabinet also discussed measures to prevent Hamas from distributing humanitarian aid, which “Israel” claims the group uses to bolster its military capabilities.
The vote followed the announcement by Israeli military chief Herzi Halevi that âtens of thousandsâ of reservists are being mobilized to support an expanded campaign in Gaza. The military already controls about 50 percent of the territory and has launched intense strikes since ending the January ceasefire and resuming bombing of the strip in mid-March.
While the new plan includes provisions for the delivery of humanitarian aid, “Israel”âs blockade since 18 March has created severe shortages of food, fuel, and clean water, triggering looting and mass displacement. Over 90 percent of Gazaâs population has been displacedâoften multiple timesâand large swathes of the territory have become uninhabitable.
Critics say the relocation of Gazaâs population amounts to ethnic cleansing, and the idea of âvoluntary migrationâ has been condemned by “Israel”âs allies in Europe and the Arab world. Despite growing international criticism, “Israeli” officials confirmed that discussions are ongoing with several countries to advance the controversial migration proposal and receive Palestinians.
“Israel” previously occupied Gaza from 1967 until its withdrawal in 2005. Hamas has administered the strip since 2007 under an “Israeli” blockade and siege.
