Israel Katz says Palestinians will leave Gaza

What Happened

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said at a Ynet and Israel Democracy Institute conference on Wednesday that Palestinians will leave Gaza, stating: 'There is no real solution for Gaza in the end without migration.' Katz said Israel would receive 'a green light to move forward militarily, territorially, and in other areas' once it becomes clear that Hamas is not meeting its commitments. He claimed 80 percent of Palestinians in Gaza want to migrate, citing surveys; Israeli media reported in May that a survey by Cogat found nearly 80 percent of Gazans surveyed expressed interest in receiving information about relocating to a third country through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings. Katz said Palestinians have not left because Hamas does not allow them and no countries will take them, and that Israel is prepared to move them out 'by sea, by air, by every way possible,' but Egypt is not willing. He said accepting countries want US support and that President Trump froze rather than cancelled this. Katz also said Israel is preparing for the possibility of an Iranian attack during the Jewish holiday period, with Rosh Hashanah falling between 11 and 13 September this year.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

Katz's remarks signal an Israeli government direction toward encouraging or forcing Palestinian departure from Gaza, despite international criticism and the absence of any accepting country confirmed by Israeli officials. The linkage between Hamas compliance and a 'green light' for military, territorial, and other moves raises the risk of renewed escalation, while the reliance on US backing ties the plan to Washington's shifting posture.

Watch For

Monitor whether Israel advances militarily in Gaza if it deems Hamas noncompliant with ceasefire commitments, and whether any country agrees to accept displaced Palestinians alongside a shift in US support from frozen to active. Also watch for further implementation or renaming of Israel's 'Freedom of Movement Plan' and Israeli statements on possible Iranian attack around Rosh Hashanah, 11-13 September.