Israel orders its military to prepare plan for Palestinians to voluntarily leave Gaza

Barred from leaving the territory without Israeli-issued exit permits, Palestinians have effectively been trapped in a war zone.

More than 47,500 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip, according to local health officials, since Israel launched its military offensive following the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks that killed 1,200 people and saw around 250 others taken hostage, according to Israeli officials.

Those who have been able to leave Gaza during the war have feared not being allowed by Israel to return, a concern underpinning fears over Trump’s plan.

When discussing his instructions to the Israel Defense Forces, Katz said countries such as Spain, Ireland and Norway, which moved to formally recognize Palestinian statehood last year as they condemned Israel’s offensive in Gaza, should be “legally obligated to allow Gaza residents to enter their territory.”

The Israeli defense minister’s plan was welcomed by figures on Israel’s far right, such as Itamar Ben-Gvir, who resigned from his role as national security minister last month over Israel’s ceasefire truce with Hamas.

“The real solution for Gaza is no longer dreams of ‘reconstruction’ and a return to the previous situation, but a fundamental change in reality,” Ben-Gvir, who has expressed support for the Israeli resettlement of Gaza, said in a post on X on Thursday.

In Gaza, Palestinians have expressed outrage over the threat Trump’s plan poses to the future recognition of Palestinian statehood.

“We spent a year and four months in the war and did not leave our country, so is it expected that we will leave it now?” Abu Saad Al-Daada told NBC News’ crew on the ground Wednesday in Khan Younis.

“He is crazy,” Daada, 56, said of Trump. “He has to find another solution.”