The war between Israel and Gaza live | Israel confirms that it does not plan to deport Palestinians from Gaza international

Expansion | Israel says it has no intention of deporting Palestinians from Gaza

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Friday that Israel has no plans to deport Palestinian residents from the Gaza Strip, adding that it will coordinate its plans regarding hundreds of thousands of refugees in the city of Rafah with neighboring Egypt.

Deep anxiety about the possible expulsion of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip has loomed over both Palestinians and their Arab neighbors since Israel launched its offensive in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas.

Israel is prepared to attack Rafah, and several sources said that contingency plans are being drawn up in Egypt to accommodate the Palestinians if the situation becomes critical. Satellite images revealed that Cairo is preparing spaces on the border that NGOs say can be used to host refugees if necessary.

Katz said that Israel has no choice but to enter Rafah, as Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) fighters are using the city as cover.

“We have no intention of deporting any Palestinian from the Gaza Strip,” Katz said. “Israel does not want to harm any Palestinian civilians; That is why we are moving them to safe areas while Hamas is trying to prevent this. “We have no intention of managing civilian life in Gaza after the war.”

This position is not shared by the entire Israeli government, as most of its sectors have proposed the mass expulsion of Palestinians from the Strip and the reconstruction of Israeli settlements that were abandoned in 2006.

Asked where hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the city would go, Katz suggested that once Khan Yunis, Gaza's second-largest city, was “liberated” from Hamas fighters, they could return there or to the west of the enclave.

Most of Israel's allies, the United Nations, and many NGOs have warned that expelling refugees to Egypt would be a disaster. Katz downplayed the importance of this option and stressed that Israel is discussing how to evacuate refugees with the United States, but will also coordinate with Egypt.

Katz promised, “We will deal with Rafah after talking to Egypt about this matter. We will coordinate this, conclude a peace agreement with them, and find a place that will not harm the Egyptians.” We will coordinate everything and will not harm their interests.” (Reuters)