‘Freedom of Movement’: IDF to Prepare Plan Allowing Palestinians to Leave Gaza Strip Voluntarily

Latest Developments

Israel’s Defense Minister Instructs IDF to Prepare Voluntary Relocation Plan: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on February 6 that he has instructed the IDF to prepare plans to “allow any resident of Gaza who wishes to leave to do so, to any country willing to receive them.” The statement followed President Donald Trump’s February 4 statement that the United States would oversee the reconstruction of Gaza and that its residents would be incentivized to resettle outside of the coastal enclave voluntarily. Katz underlined that the “people of Gaza should have the right to freedom of movement and migration” and added that the “plan will include exit options via land crossings, as well as special arrangements for departure by sea and air.”
Hamas Creates Unlivable Conditions for Gazans: Katz said that Hamas has used Gazans as “human shields” throughout its war with Israel following its October 7, 2023, onslaught and is “preventing their departure from Gaza.” Most of Gaza’s civilians have been displaced by nearly one and a half years of fighting between the Iran-backed Hamas and the IDF, 70 percent of Gazan structures are estimated to have been damaged or destroyed, and healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene systems have collapsed.
Israel Welcomes Trump Plan for Gaza: President Donald Trump said on February 6 that no U.S. troops would be needed to enforce his Gaza plan, which Defense Minister Katz called a “bold initiative.” Katz added that Trump’s proposed plan “can create extensive opportunities for those in Gaza who wish to leave, assist them in resettling in host countries, and support long-term reconstruction efforts in a demilitarized, threat-free Gaza after Hamas.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded Trump’s idea for Gaza, calling it “the kind of thinking that will reshape the Middle East and bring peace.”

FDD Expert Response

“Every civilian in the world should have the right to escape a war. However, the people of Gaza have been denied that basic right for 16 months by Hamas, the United Nations, and the international community. President Trump’s proposal to allow Gazans the freedom to escape the ruin and misery that Hamas has imposed on them makes sense. Many Gazans wish to leave. Emigration on a voluntary basis is humane and fair.” — Enia Krivine, Senior Director of FDD’s Israel Program and National Security Network

“Palestinian civilians should be allowed to leave the Gazan warzone in search of safety, opportunity, and a better life. They should not be forced — against their will — to serve as pawns in the fight to destroy Israel. Anyone insisting otherwise is providing cover for Hamas, perpetuating the conflict, and prioritizing politics over the personal safety of Gazans. Kicking the can down the road will only guarantee more pain and suffering in the near future.” — David May, Research Manager and Senior Research Analyst

“It’s imperative that those Gazans who see this initiative as an opportunity to begin afresh outside a devastated warzone are able to participate without fearing intimidation or worse by Hamas. As long as Hamas rules Gaza, and as long as its terrorists and thugs roam the streets, the people who live there will have good reason to feel cowed, especially as they have already witnessed the brutal treatment meted out to those labeled as ‘traitors’ and ‘collaborators.’ The removal of Hamas from any positions of power is a necessary condition for this proposal to become a viable plan.” — Ben Cohen, Senior Analyst and Rapid Response Director