Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, has set out a plan for the illegal forced displacement of all Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, with the intention of sending them abroad. Speaking in the run-up to close-fought Israeli elections, Ben-Gvir said the plan aimed to remove 250,000 Palestinians from Gaza in the first year, followed by the rest of its population of roughly 2 million over the next six years.
The proposal, which Ben-Gvir claims is “realistic” and “concrete,” constitutes a forced expulsion of an entire civilian population, a measure widely considered illegal under international law. The plan has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and Palestinian leaders, who denounce it as ethnic cleansing.
Meanwhile, violence continues in Gaza despite an existing ceasefire. Israeli drone strikes and gunfire have killed three people across the Strip, according to Al Jazeera, injuring others and underscoring the fragility of the truce. The timing of Ben-Gvir’s announcement, so close to elections, suggests it is intended to appeal to hardline voters, but it has further inflamed tensions in an already volatile region.