The newly established agency, reporting directly to Defence Minister Israel Katz, will be responsible for coordinating the expulsion of Gaza residents to third countries under the pretext of “safe and controlled passage” [Getty]
Israel’s security cabinet has approved the creation of a special agency within the Defence Ministry tasked with orchestrating the mass expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza under the guise of “voluntary” relocation – a move widely condemned as an attempt at forced displacement and ethnic cleansing.
The newly established agency, reporting directly to Defence Minister Israel Katz, will be responsible for coordinating the expulsion of Gaza residents to third countries under the pretext of “safe and controlled passage”.
It will also handle security screenings and transportation logistics for those forced to leave.
The Defence Ministry said the plan was intended to align with the “vision of US President Donald Trump,” who has previously advocated for the mass relocation of Palestinians in Gaza as part of a broader Middle East strategy.
Trump’s plan, which critics have condemned as a blueprint for ethnic cleansing, has also included proposals for a US takeover of Gaza – a controversial plan strongly rejected by Arab nations.
Israeli officials, including far-right ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, have called for a full military takeover of Gaza and the establishment of Israeli settlements in the territory, with Ben-Gvir urging Gaza to be “repopulated with Jews” and Smotrich pushing for a permanent settler presence.
The Israeli Defence Ministry said the new body would oversee the creation of designated crossing points at Gaza’s borders and coordinate infrastructure to enable travel by land, sea, and air. Katz is expected to appoint a head for the directorate soon.
Renewed Gaza offensive
The decision comes amid Israel’s renewed military offensive in Gaza, where more than 61,700 Palestinians have been killed since the war began – mostly women and children.
The latest Israeli airstrikes have intensified since Israel broke the January ceasefire, with hundreds killed in the renewed bombardment.
Meanwhile, the Israeli army has expanded its ground operations in Gaza, seizing additional territory and continuing to bombard indiscriminately.
In the occupied West Bank, Israel’s security cabinet also approved a proposal by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to separate 13 settlements from their neighbouring settlements and classify them as “independent settlements”.
This move, seen as an effort to expand Israeli control over the West Bank, coincides with plans to approve thousands of new housing units in the area.
Israel has also intensified punitive actions across Palestinian territories. In Tulkarem, Israeli forces conducted mass evacuations, destroying infrastructure and forcibly displacing Palestinian families.
The army has also increased its presence in Jenin, sending reinforcements and military bulldozers to destroy roads and expand control.
