Archive · 3 Sep 2026
Israel Minister Proposes Gaza Palestinian Relocation Awaiting Trump Approval
Israel’s defense minister said Israel is preparing a plan for Palestinians to leave Gaza.
He said he believes many people in Gaza want to move elsewhere.
However, he did not name the surveys used to support that claim.
He said Israel could move people by ships, planes, or other methods.
He also said countries that might receive Palestinians want support from the United States.
Israel is waiting for President Donald Trump to decide whether to support the idea.
Katz connected the proposal to whether Hamas follows a disarmament and withdrawal plan.
Separately, a former British diplomat accused Tony Blair of asking Palestinian officials to remove the word “Palestine” from schoolbooks.
The claim about the schoolbooks was presented as an allegation and was not independently substantiated in the provided report.
Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the military to develop a mechanism for Palestinians to leave Gaza.
Katz said there is no “real solution” for Gaza without Palestinian migration and claimed 80% want to leave, without identifying supporting surveys.
Katz said Israel is prepared to move Palestinians by sea, air, or other means if receiving countries and the United States agree.
He said Israel is awaiting a green light from US President Donald Trump, who has reportedly frozen rather than canceled the proposal.
Former UK ambassador Jeremy Greenstock separately accused Tony Blair of asking the Palestinian Authority to remove references to “Palestine” from schoolbooks.
- Who
- Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz made the relocation proposal; Donald Trump was identified as the United States official whose approval Israel is awaiting. Former British ambassador Jeremy Greenstock made a separate allegation about Tony Blair and the Palestinian Authority.
- What
- Katz directed the Israeli military to devise a mechanism for Palestinians to leave Gaza and said Israel was prepared to facilitate their departure. Greenstock separately alleged that Blair sought to remove references to “Palestine” from Palestinian schoolbooks.
- When
- Katz’s remarks were reported without a specific date. Greenstock made his allegation on a podcast on Wednesday; the provided report does not specify the date.
- Where
- The relocation proposal concerns Gaza. Greenstock made his remarks on the David Hearst Podcast.
- Why
- Katz said migration was necessary because he saw no other lasting solution for Gaza and linked action to Hamas’s compliance with a disarmament-and-withdrawal roadmap. He said receiving countries wanted US backing.
Israeli government proposal
International hesitation and criticism
Whether relocation is necessary
Israeli government proposal
Israel Katz said there is no “real solution” for Gaza without Palestinian migration and said Israel is preparing to facilitate departures.
International hesitation and criticism
The report says potential receiving countries want US support, while Arab countries pressured Trump over the issue; it does not provide their full public positions.
Evidence for willingness to leave
Israeli government proposal
Katz claimed that 80% of Palestinians in Gaza want to migrate, citing surveys conducted regularly.
International hesitation and criticism
Katz did not identify the surveys, so the report does not independently verify the figure.
Conditions for action
Israeli government proposal
Katz said Israel is awaiting a US green light and linked the timing to Hamas’s compliance with a disarmament-and-withdrawal roadmap.
International hesitation and criticism
Trump was described as having frozen rather than canceled the proposal, indicating that approval had not been granted.
- Israeli official
- Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz
- Proposed action
- Developing a mechanism for Palestinians to leave Gaza
- Katz’s survey claim
- He claimed 80% of Palestinians in Gaza want to migrate, but did not identify the surveys
- Possible routes
- Katz said departures could occur by sea, air, or other means
- US position described by Katz
- Katz said Donald Trump had frozen, rather than canceled, the proposal
- Condition cited by Katz
- He said Israel may act when Hamas is seen as failing to meet a Phase 2 disarmament-and-withdrawal roadmap
- Separate allegation
- Jeremy Greenstock accused Tony Blair of asking the Palestinian Authority to remove references to “Palestine” from schoolbooks