Nearly all of the Gaza Strip’s 2.4 million people have been displaced at least once during the war, sparked by Hamas’ October 2023 attack on Israel.
Israel has pushed for Palestinians to leave Gaza, with a senior security official saying that a “voluntary transfer programme … will be part of the operation’s goals”.
Israeli ministers have seized on a proposal initially floated by US President Donald Trump for the voluntary departure of Gazans to neighbouring countries such as Jordan or Egypt.
Cairo and Amman, along with other Arab allies, governments around the world and the Palestinians themselves, have flatly rejected the proposal.
During the meeting with soldiers, Netanyahu said Israel was working to find countries that may be willing to take in Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
“We’ve set up an administration that will allow them (Gaza residents) to leave but … we need countries willing to take them in. That’s what we’re working on right now,” he said, adding that he estimated “over 50 per cent will leave” if given the option.
The war in Gaza was triggered by Hamas’ Oct 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official data.
In addition, militants abducted 251 people, of whom 57 are still being held in Gaza, including 34 declared dead by the Israeli army.
The Israeli offensive launched in retaliation for the Oct 7, 2023 attack has killed at least 52,908 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run health ministry, which is considered reliable by the UN.
