Israel still wants to remove Palestinians from Gaza, defence minister says

What the report says

Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, said at a conference organised by the Israeli outlet Ynet that removing Palestinians from Gaza remains the only way to resolve the territory’s future. Al Jazeera reported that Katz described population transfer from Gaza as still being discussed and argued there is “no real solution” without it. The article said his remarks revived concerns among Palestinian rights groups and others who have long warned that Israel’s war on Gaza could amount to ethnic cleansing.

According to Al Jazeera, Katz also said US President Donald Trump has not abandoned the idea, but has only “frozen” it. The report linked this to earlier backing in Trump’s presidency for a plan under which the United States would take control of Gaza after Palestinians were removed. Al Jazeera noted that Trump later supported a ceasefire deal that said Palestinians have the right to stay in their land and return if they leave.

The article added that Israel has continued restricting aid and limiting reconstruction in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect in October 2025, while carrying out near-daily attacks, though those claims were presented by the publisher as ongoing context rather than a new development. Egypt continues to reject taking in Palestinian refugees, and Al Jazeera said Katz suggested other countries would need US support to accept displaced Palestinians.

The remarks matter because they suggest that forced displacement remains part of debate inside the Israeli government, despite international criticism and competing ceasefire language that says Gazans should not be expelled.