Israeli Minister Unveils Controversial Seven-Year Plan to Expel Palestinians From Gaza

GAZA: Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has unveiled a controversial seven-year plan that would forcibly remove large numbers of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and relocate them to other countries, a proposal critics have described as an explicit plan for ethnic cleansing.

Ben-Gvir presented the initiative, titled “Disengagement 710,” on Thursday and claimed that unspecified countries were prepared to accept Palestinians from Gaza.

According to the plan outlined by Ben-Gvir, around 250,000 Palestinians would be removed during the first year, with the figure rising to 1.11 million within three years and approximately 1.86 million within seven years.

Ben-Gvir said the policy should prioritise what he called “emigration” rather than pursuing what he dismissed as the prospects of immediate peace.

His remarks have triggered further outrage over proposals to permanently displace Palestinians from their homeland and reshape the demographic character of Gaza.

Ben-Gvir said his far-right Otzma Yehudit party would demand the creation of a government ministry responsible for what it calls “voluntary emigration” from Gaza during the formation of the next Israeli cabinet.

Under the proposal, Palestinians leaving Gaza would reportedly be offered an “absorption package” covering travel assistance, initial housing, vocational training, employment support and assistance for up to 24 months.

According to Otzma Yehudit, the programme would require an initial Israeli investment of around $3 billion, followed by as much as $15.2 billion in matching funds.

The proposed financial framework has intensified criticism that the plan is not simply about temporary population movement but could establish a long-term mechanism for removing Palestinians from Gaza.

Ben-Gvir’s proposal follows remarks by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, who reportedly said Israel was waiting for US President Donald Trump’s approval to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza.

Katz described the mass expulsion of Palestinians as the “only solution,” according to the supplied report.

His remarks have renewed concerns over the future of Gaza’s Palestinian population and whether displacement is being considered as a permanent political objective.

Trump had previously proposed relocating Palestinians from Gaza in February 2025, a plan that drew widespread international criticism and strong opposition from Arab and Muslim countries.

Although the proposal was subsequently placed on hold amid regional pressure, Israeli officials continue to discuss various forms of Palestinian relocation.

The latest proposals have prompted renewed accusations that Israel is seeking to transform the Gaza conflict into a permanent demographic project.

Critics argue that forcing Palestinians to leave their homeland, even when such relocation is presented as “voluntary,” raises serious questions under international humanitarian law, particularly when people are living under military pressure, destruction, blockade and restricted access to essential resources.

For Palestinians, the prospect of permanent displacement carries echoes of the mass expulsions and forced displacement associated with earlier phases of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Human rights advocates have repeatedly warned that Palestinians must not be denied the right to return to their homes or pressured into leaving through conditions that make remaining impossible.

The proposed displacement plan comes after a prolonged Israeli military campaign that has devastated large areas of Gaza.

According to figures cited in the supplied report, at least 73,470 Palestinians have been killed and 174,540 wounded since the conflict began, with enormous destruction to homes, hospitals, schools, roads and other civilian infrastructure.

Despite the announcement of a ceasefire, attacks have continued, according to Palestinian and regional sources, raising further questions about the implementation and durability of the truce.

The destruction has also displaced a vast number of Palestinians within Gaza, many of whom have been repeatedly forced to move in search of safety, food and shelter.

Ben-Gvir’s seven-year proposal goes beyond battlefield operations and places the future demographic composition of Gaza at the centre of Israel’s political debate.

By setting specific targets for removing Palestinians and proposing dedicated government structures and billions of dollars in funding, the initiative represents a far-reaching attempt to institutionalise displacement.

For Palestinians and their supporters, the issue is not simply whether people are offered financial assistance to leave. The central question is whether a population facing war, destruction and military pressure can genuinely make a free choice about remaining in its homeland.

The proposal has therefore intensified international scrutiny of Israel’s Gaza policy and raised alarm over the possibility of permanent displacement becoming an official state strategy.

As the debate continues, the future of Gaza increasingly hinges on whether Palestinians will be allowed to remain on their land, rebuild their communities and exercise their right to self-determination, or face further pressure to leave permanently.