Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz admitted on January 1 that Israel is still seeking to displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, asserting that U.S. President Donald Trump has only frozen — not abandoned — the plan that rights groups have condemned as ethnic cleansing.
Speaking at a conference organized by Israeli outlet Ynet the same day, Katz argued that the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza — which some Israeli officials euphemistically call 'voluntary migration' or 'immigration' — remains the 'only solution.'
'Ultimately, there is no real solution for Gaza without this migration,' Katz said, according to The Times of Israel.
Palestinian rights advocates have for nearly three years maintained that the ultimate goal of Israel's genocidal war in Gaza is to ethnically cleanse the territory. Some far-right Israeli officials have openly called for the complete removal of the population from Gaza.
Early in his term, Trump endorsed the idea, declaring that the United States would take over and 'own' the Gaza Strip after Palestinians were displaced. The proposal sparked outrage across the Middle East, including among governments allied with Washington.
Trump later brokered a ceasefire agreement in Gaza that explicitly upheld Palestinians' right to remain on their land. The 12-point deal stated: 'Nobody will be forced to leave Gaza; those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return. We will encourage people to stay and create opportunities for them to build a better Gaza.'
Since the ceasefire took effect in October 2025, Israel has continued to restrict aid entering Gaza, block reconstruction efforts, and launch near-daily attacks on Palestinians in the territory.
Katz said Israel's government is prepared to reach Gaza 'by sea, by air, and by all necessary means.' However, Egypt — which shares a border with Gaza — has refused to accept Palestinian refugees. He also indicated that other countries that might take in displaced Palestinians would need U.S. backing, stressing that Washington has not fully abandoned the proposal.
'Right now, Trump hasn't canceled it; he's just frozen it,' Katz said. He insisted that the ethnic cleansing plan 'is constantly being discussed' and that 'ultimately, there is no other solution for the benefit of everyone. But to do that, we need the United States, and the time will come.'
Over the past three years, the United States has provided about $25 billion in military aid to Israel and shielded its government at international forums, including imposing sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) officials investigating atrocities in Gaza.
In July 2025, Trump announced a U.S.-backed deal to disarm Hamas, involving Israeli troop withdrawal and an end to deadly attacks on Palestinian territory. Israel, however, rejected the proposal, saying it would not make concessions until Gaza is fully disarmed.
Reacting to Katz's remarks, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen said he and fellow Democrat Jeff Merkley had warned that Israel was planning ethnic cleansing in Gaza after visiting the Gaza-Egypt border last year. 'Now Israel's defense minister has confirmed that as the goal,' Van Hollen wrote on social media. 'We must end this complicity.'
