The Israeli occupation’s announcement of establishing a special agency to facilitate the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza has sparked widespread rejection. Politicians and analysts assert that this plan is destined to fail, just as all previous attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians have failed since the Nakba of 1948 until today.
Recently, the Israeli Security Cabinet approved the creation of a military administration tasked with implementing the U.S. President’s plan for Gaza. According to Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, this new administration will report directly to him and will coordinate with international entities to carry out the forced displacement of Palestinians to other countries. He claimed that this process would be “organized” and would “comply with Israeli and international laws.”
U.S. Support for Displacement Plans
Political analyst Adnan Al-Sabbagh stated that this step comes in response to repeated calls from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had emphasized the need to expel Gaza’s population to ensure what he called regional stability—a move that serves American interests as much as it aligns with Israeli ambitions.
Speaking to Palestine Online, Al-Sabbagh stressed that Israel’s success in displacing Palestinians depends primarily on their resilience. He highlighted how, since October 7, 2023, Palestinians in Gaza have steadfastly held onto their land despite relentless bombings and destruction.
He pointed out that despite Israel’s attempts to push residents towards southern Gaza, Palestinians refused to leave their homes, proving their unwavering commitment to their homeland. He emphasized that history since 1948 has demonstrated that Palestinians will not abandon their land under any circumstances.
To thwart the displacement plan, Al-Sabbagh called for a unified Palestinian stance alongside diplomatic efforts to pressure the international community to reject these schemes and affirm the Palestinians’ right to remain in their homeland.
The Dangerous Shift to an Official Policy
Political analyst and Israeli affairs expert Adel Shadeed warned that Israel’s decision to establish an official displacement agency represents a dangerous shift. He explained that for the first time, discussions about displacing Palestinians have moved from mere rhetoric to an official government policy, aligning with repeated U.S. statements supporting such actions.
Shadeed told Palestine Online that Israel has, for years, tightened its siege on Gaza and launched repeated military assaults to create an unlivable environment that forces residents into exile.
He noted that the ongoing war on Gaza has exposed Israel’s intent to carry out ethnic cleansing by obliterating large areas of the enclave, rendering them uninhabitable. This strategy aims to corner Palestinians into choosing migration as their only means of survival.
Shadeed further stressed that the lack of a unified Arab response and the international community’s inaction have emboldened Israel to move forward with its aggressive plans. He warned that if Israel succeeds in implementing this displacement scheme in Gaza, it will expand similar projects to the West Bank, posing an existential threat to the Palestinian people and their cause.
Legal Perspective: Forced Displacement in Violation of International Law
Professor of International Relations and Law at the Arab American University in Ramallah, Raed Abu Baduya, described Israel’s so-called “voluntary migration” as a deceptive term that contradicts international law. He stressed that migration cannot be considered voluntary when coercive conditions—such as blockades, starvation, denial of medical aid, and travel restrictions—are imposed to force people to leave.
Speaking to Palestine Online, Abu Baduya explained that all these measures constitute forced displacement, a violation of international legal standards.
He called for internal Palestinian coordination to rebuild the Palestinian political system on a unified basis. He also emphasized the need for joint Arab efforts to adopt a firm stance against Israeli policies and pressure Tel Aviv to halt its crimes against Gaza’s population.
Furthermore, he urged Palestinian factions to restructure the political framework and agree on a civilian administration for Gaza, which would undermine Israel’s pretext for mass displacement and thwart its objectives of depopulating the enclave.
Arab and International Rejection
The Qatari Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Israel’s announcement of establishing an agency to displace Palestinians, calling on the international community to take action to pressure Israel into ending its brutal war on Gaza. In a statement, Doha reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and the people’s resilience against all forced displacement attempts.
Similarly, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry firmly rejected the plan, stating that the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza represents a blatant violation of international laws and poses a direct threat to regional security and stability.
A Historical Struggle Against Forced Displacement
Israeli efforts to forcibly expel Palestinians from Gaza are not new. However, today, they have escalated to a more dangerous level, as they are now backed by official Israeli government decisions and U.S. support.
Nevertheless, the Palestinian people’s determination to remain on their land—just as they have resisted past attempts of forced exile—proves once again that these plans will fail. The key to countering these schemes lies in Palestinian unity, effective political and diplomatic efforts, and strong Arab and international solidarity to uphold Palestinians’ right to remain in their homeland.
