Israel is setting up a new agency to prepare for the “voluntary” departure of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. The agency must arrange for Gazans to leave for third countries “safely and orderly”.
A spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Palestinians who want to leave Gaza should be able to do so “in line with the vision of US President Donald Trump”.
Trump suggested a month and a half ago that all 2 million residents should leave the area so that the Americans can rebuild it after the devastating war with Israel.
The new agency will be controlled by the Ministry of Defense. It is not clear to which third countries the Palestinians should leave.
Several countries in the region have spoken out against the plans because they would amount to forced relocations. UN chief António Guterres speaks of ethnic cleansing.