Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the army on Monday to prepare a plan that would allow the "voluntary departure" of the population of the Gaza Strip. This was reported by Reuters, citing local media, BTA reports.
The instruction was given in the context of a statement by US President Donald Trump, in which he said that the United States plans to establish control over Gaza, relocate the Palestinians living there and transform the enclave into the "Riviera of the Middle East".
„I welcome President Trump's bold plan. "Gaza residents should be given the freedom to leave and emigrate, as is normal throughout the world," Katz was quoted as saying by Israel's Channel 12 television.
When asked who would take in the Palestinians, Katz said that it should be the countries that have opposed Israel's military actions in Gaza.
"Countries like Spain, Ireland, Norway and others that have made accusations and false allegations against Israel over its actions in Gaza are legally obligated to allow every Gaza resident to enter their territory," he said.
Katz's plan will include options for leaving the country through land checkpoints, as well as special measures for leaving by sea and air, Channel 12 reported.
Trump was met with numerous criticisms yesterday over his Gaza plan, including from Russia, China and Germany, which said it would encourage "new suffering and new hatred". Saudi Arabia rejected the idea, and Jordanian King Abdullah, who will meet Trump at the White House next week, said any attempts to annex land and displace Palestinians would be undesirable, Reuters noted.