BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 9. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has said the Israeli government has no plan to forcibly remove all Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, despite recent statements by far-right ministers advocating the relocation of Gaza’s population.
Speaking at a press conference in Slovenia, Saar said Israel would not oppose Palestinians who independently choose to leave Gaza if another country is willing to receive them.
“If someone wants to immigrate on his own will and there is a country which is ready to accept him, we will not oppose that. We will not force anyone against their will,” Saar said.
His comments follow the release of a seven-year plan by Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir calling for the removal of Gaza’s population through what the plan describes as “voluntary emigration”.
A day earlier, Defence Minister Israel Katz said there was “no real solution for Gaza” without the migration of Palestinians from the territory.
The statements have intensified debate over Israel’s plans for Gaza and the future of its Palestinian population.
The forced displacement of civilians from occupied territory is prohibited under international humanitarian law and can constitute a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.
