The sadistic Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s national security minister, unveiled a plan on Thursday that he said he hoped to advance if the governing coalition maintains control of power in the coming October 27 election. His plan is aimed at removing the vast majority of Gaza’s Palestinian population from the territory through what he termed “voluntary emigration,” including by establishing a dedicated government ministry to that end. In the estimate of The Times of Israel, the plan “is highly unlikely to get off the ground... and would face massive international pushback.”
Ben Gvir’s plan seeks the removal of 250,000 Gazans in its first year, 1.11 million within three years and 1.86 million within seven. Gaza’s population is estimated at some 2.3 million. “Instead of illusions of peace now, we need actions of emigration now,” Ben Gvir said. “Instead of [Gazans] digging tunnels, it’s time to pack suitcases.” The establishment and leadership of an “Emigration Ministry” will be among the top demands of the ultra-right Otzma Yehudit party for joining the next government, he added.
Ben Gvir’s plan came a day after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that plans to facilitate the mass emigration of Palestinians from Gaza remain under discussion and were merely “frozen” by U.S. President Donald Trump, not taken off the table entirely. At a conference hosted by Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, he discussed the plans, saying Israel would facilitate emigration “by any means.” At the same time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu paid a visit to an IDF outpost inside the Gaza Strip and reaffirmed that Israel had no plans to withdraw.
