No Plans to Force Palestinians Out of Gaza, US Envoy Says

TDT | Manama

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The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said Saturday that there was no plan by Israel or the United States to forcibly remove Palestinians from Gaza, following proposals by senior Israeli ministers to relocate the territory's population.

"I can tell you categorically there is no plan of the Israelis to displace people out of Gaza against their will," Huckabee told reporters during a visit to Palestinian-Americans in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

His comments came after far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir outlined a proposal calling for the departure of 250,000 Palestinians from Gaza during the first year, followed by the relocation of the territory's remaining population over six years.

Defence Minister Israel Katz also said Israel was prepared to remove Palestinians from Gaza by land and sea, while claiming that the United States was discussing possible destinations for those who leave.

Huckabee stressed that Washington supports Palestinians having the option to leave Gaza voluntarily, but rejected the idea of forced displacement.

"There is an open-mindedness if people wish to leave, that they should have the right to leave," he said, describing restrictions preventing Palestinians from leaving as a "disgrace".

Forced displacement of civilians from occupied territory is prohibited under international humanitarian law and can constitute a war crime.

The debate comes as Gaza's population remains overwhelmingly displaced following Israel's military campaign launched after the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

President Donald Trump previously proposed temporarily removing Palestinians from Gaza and transforming the devastated territory into a luxury resort, but later backed away from the proposal following strong international opposition, particularly from neighbouring Egypt.