Palestinian displacement: Israel creates agency to encourage Gazans to leave, Netanyahu committed to Trump plan

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced the establishment of a special agency for the voluntary departure of Gazans, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that he must adhere to President Donald Trump's plan for controlling the Gaza Strip.

This comes within the implementation of what US President Donald Trump announced about the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt and Jordan, and he announced his intention to control the Gaza Strip.

Israel's defense minister announced that a special agency for the "voluntary departure" of Gazans will be established, as Israel expressed its commitment to the US proposal to control the Palestinian enclave and displace its population.

The Israeli announcement came after a meeting held on Monday by the Israeli Defense Minister, at the end of which he decided to establish a directorate in the Ministry of Defense for the voluntary departure of Gaza residents.

A statement from the ministry said that Katz "held a meeting regarding the voluntary departure of Gaza residents, at the end of which he decided to establish a directorate in the Defense Ministry for the voluntary departure of Gaza residents."

Earlier this month, Katz ordered the Israeli army to prepare a plan that would allow the voluntary emigration of Gaza residents, welcoming US President Donald Trump's plan that "could provide broad opportunities for Gaza residents who want to leave, and help them integrate optimally into the host countries."

The statement said that an initial plan presented at the meeting held on Monday "includes major assistance that would allow Gaza residents wishing to voluntarily emigrate to a third country to receive a comprehensive package that includes, among other things, special arrangements for departure by sea, air and land."

Palestinian displacement plan

According to the latest damage assessment by the United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), as of December 1, approximately 69 per cent of the Strip’s buildings had been damaged or destroyed, a total of 170,812 buildings.

The ceasefire agreement went into effect on January 19, after a devastating 15-month war on the Gaza Strip. Since the start of the first phase of the truce, which is supposed to end on March 1, 19 Israeli detainees and 1,134 Palestinian prisoners have been released.

According to the agreement, during this phase, 33 Israeli detainees in Gaza will be released in exchange for 1,900 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons.

The second phase of the deal is supposed to see the release of all living Israeli detainees and an end to the war. The third and final phase will be devoted to the reconstruction of Gaza, a massive project that the United Nations estimates has cost more than $53 billion.

Hamas and Israel remain committed to the first phase of a 42-day ceasefire, which came to the brink of collapse last week before Egyptian and Qatari mediators intervened.

Source: Yemen Youth Net + AFP