From the Liveblog of
Thursday, February 6, 2025
Katz meets with defense officials to discuss plans for Palestinians to ‘voluntarily’ leave Gaza
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Defense Minister Israel Katz held an assessment this evening with defense officials regarding plans to allow Palestinians to “voluntarily” leave the Gaza Strip, as per recent statements by US President Donald Trump.
Katz met with outgoing IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, director general of the ministry and incoming chief of staff Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir, and several other top officers.
“I instructed the IDF to prepare a plan that would allow any resident in Gaza that would be interested, to leave for anywhere in the world that would agree to absorb them,” he says in a video statement.
“The plan will include options to leave through the land crossings and special arrangements for exit through the sea and the air,” Katz adds.
A small number of Palestinians are currently able to leave the Strip via the Rafah Crossing with Egypt amid the ongoing ceasefire. During the fighting, Israel facilitated the exit of dozens of sick Palestinians via the Kerem Shalom Crossing and enabled them to reach the United Arab Emirates for treatment.
