Hamas urges Arab, Muslim nations to oppose Israeli Gaza removal proposal

Gaza City witnessed Hamas calling on Arab and Muslim nations to oppose an Israeli proposal to relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and relocate them abroad, as tensions escalated within the Israeli government. Israeli ministers have been increasingly vocal about their plans to displace the Palestinian population from Gaza, calling it an extremely dangerous development, according to Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem.

The proposal, outlined by far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir, aims to relocate 250,000 Palestinians in the first year, followed by the remaining two million over the next six years. Defence minister Israel Katz revealed that Israel was prepared to remove Palestinians from Gaza via sea and land, awaiting guidance from the US on suitable locations for them to resettle.

Finance minister Bezalel Smotrich had previously suggested the same plan for the West Bank, where settlers have been increasingly engaged in violent attacks. The forced displacement of civilians in occupied territories is deemed a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. Gaza's population has already been internally displaced due to relentless Israeli bombardment since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks, which were the deadliest ever against Israel, claiming mostly civilian lives.

The Israeli statements have come in the run-up to the October 27 elections, where polls indicate a close race for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has incorporated far-right ministers into his cabinet. Earlier, US President Donald Trump proposed the same plan, aiming to transform Gaza into a luxury resort, but later withdrew his proposal after facing criticism from countries including Egypt, the only nation bordering Gaza.