Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rekindled discussions on letting Palestinians exit the Gaza Strip, as the Israeli military gears up for a broader offensive in the region. Previous suggestions to relocate Gazans from the war-torn territory, including from US President Donald Trump, have raised alarm among Palestinians and the international community.
Netanyahu defended his approach to warfare in a rare interview with Israeli media, broadcast shortly after Egypt announced a revived effort by Gaza mediators to secure a 60-day ceasefire. Netanyahu told Israeli broadcaster i24NEWS, ‘We are not pushing them out, but we are allowing them to leave.’ He added, ‘Give them the opportunity to leave combat zones, and generally to depart the territory, if they wish,’ citing refugee movements during conflicts in Syria, Ukraine and Afghanistan.
In Gaza, Israel has long restricted borders, preventing many from exiting. Netanyahu stated, ‘We will permit this, primarily within Gaza during conflicts, and we will certainly enable them to depart Gaza as well.’ For Palestinians, any move to evict them would evoke the ‘Nakba’, or catastrophe, referring to the displacement of Palestinians during Israel’s establishment in 1948.
Netanyahu voiced support for Trump’s proposal earlier in the year to transfer Gaza’s over two million residents to Egypt and Jordan, while Israeli far-right ministers have suggested their ‘voluntary’ departure. Israel’s plans to escalate its offensive into Gaza City coincide with a stagnant ceasefire and hostage release deal negotiation, following a breakdown in talks in July.
Egypt’s Foreign Minister announced efforts in collaboration with the US and Qatar to achieve a 60-day ceasefire, hostages and Palestinian detainees release, and the continuous flow of aid to Gaza. Discussions between Hamas representatives and Egyptian officials are anticipated. Mediators aim to formulate a new comprehensive ceasefire plan that includes releasing all hostages at once.
Netanyahu opposes phased hostage releases, insisting on their return as part of a peace agreement. Mediation by Qatar, Egypt, and the US has not yielded results since a brief truce earlier this year. As Gaza faces intensified Israeli airstrikes, Netanyahu’s government has not disclosed a specific timeline for ground incursions into the region.
Civil defense reports an upsurge in Israeli air raids over the past days, causing significant casualties. Netanyahu is pressed to secure the release of remaining hostages, including 27 reportedly deceased, amid criticism over war expansion plans. The 2023 Hamas attack led to 1,219 fatalities, with Israel’s offensive claiming at least 61,599 lives, per Gaza health ministry figures acknowledged by the UN.
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