Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has directed the Israel Defense Forces to develop a comprehensive plan enabling the voluntary evacuation of Gaza residents, following President Donald Trump's announcement regarding US control of the Gaza Strip. The initiative, unveiled Thursday morning, represents a significant shift in approach to the region's humanitarian challenges.
"I welcome President Trump's bold initiative," Minister Katz declared. "The people of Gaza should have the right to freedom of movement and migration, as is customary everywhere in the world. The plan will include exit options via land crossings, as well as special arrangements for departure by sea and air."
Katz highlighted Hamas' role in the current crisis, stating that the organization has systematically used Gaza residents as human shields, embedded terror infrastructure within civilian areas, and now holds the population hostage, extracting funds through manipulation of humanitarian aid while restricting their ability to leave Gaza.
"Countries such as Spain, Ireland, Norway, and others, which have falsely accused Israel over its actions in Gaza, are legally obligated to allow Gazans to enter their territory. Their hypocrisy will be exposed if they refuse. Meanwhile, countries like Canada, which has a structured immigration program, have previously expressed willingness to take in residents from Gaza."
The Wall Street Journal published an extensive report Wednesday detailing the evolution of the US President's plan. According to administration officials versed in Middle East strategy, Trump's proposal was recently developed, maintained under strict confidentiality, and shared exclusively with his closest advisors and confidants. The broader administration remained unaware of the plan's formulation during the period leading up to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit.
However, the report indicates that hints of the strategic thinking behind the plan occasionally emerged. During a late summer discussion, Trump characterized the Gaza Strip as prime real estate to Netanyahu, inquiring about potential hotel development opportunities, according to a source privy to the conversation. The newspaper noted that during this exchange, Trump did not mention the possibility of US oversight of the Gaza Strip.
