Israel will ‘finish job’ in Gaza and remove Palestinians, says defence minister

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz predicts that Israel will soon resume full-scale war in Gaza and forcibly remove its two million Palestinians, according to a report from Jerusalem. Katz, known for his provocative statements, made these remarks in response to criticism from a rival right-wing candidate ahead of the upcoming elections on October 27.

Speaking to reporters, Katz emphasized that 70% of Gaza's population had already been evacuated during the Israeli offensive following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people and the kidnapping of 251 hostages.

Katz highlighted that a US-led ceasefire announced in October 2025 holds significant importance for Israelis as it promises the release of remaining hostages and guarantees the United States' commitment to disarm Hamas. However, Katz acknowledged that these outcomes are unlikely to materialize, and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) would be ready to complete the mission once authorized to eliminate Hamas, including implementing a migration plan for the Palestinians.

He mentioned that Israel has been prepared to relocate Palestinians from Gaza by sea and land but is awaiting guidance from the US regarding the destination for the two million displaced individuals. The US Ambassador, Mike Huckabee, has firmly denied any plan to forcibly displace people from Gaza against their will.

Katz described the migration plan as voluntary, asserting that most Palestinians desire to leave. The vast majority of Gaza's population has been internally displaced, and most of the territory is now rubble following the war. The Hamas-led October 7 attack resulted in the highest number of casualties ever inflicted upon Israel, with over 73,700 Palestinians killed according to the Gaza health ministry, which operates under Hamas authority and whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.

Although the 11-month ceasefire has lessened the intensity of the conflict, Israel has continued to carry out strikes in Gaza. Since the ceasefire began, 1,375 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza health ministry. In late July, Hamas announced its readiness to disarm, a development that US President Donald Trump hailed as a significant breakthrough.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vehemently rejected the latest phase of the plan, insisting that Israel will not withdraw from Gaza until Hamas definitively disarms all its weapons.