PA foreign ministry says planned displacement of Gazans proves there’s no ‘partner for peace’ on Israeli side

The Palestinian Authority’s foreign ministry says that Defense Minister Israel Katz’s comments on the IDF’s preparations for the exit of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip is further proof that there is no “partner for peace” on the Israeli side.

Earlier today, Katz’s office said that the defense minister had ordered the IDF to prepare a plan to enable Gazans to leave the Strip voluntarily, after US President Donald Trump presented his vision for the relocation of the approximately 2 million residents of the war-torn Palestinian enclave.

Katz was quoted as welcoming Trump’s “courageous plan,” and speculated that Spain, Ireland, and Norway would be willing to host Gazans, due to the “false accusations” they have leveled against Israel throughout the war in the Palestinian enclave.

In its response, the PA foreign ministry says that it considers Katz’s comments to be “an extension of the war of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed by the occupying state [Israel] against our people.”

The planned displacement of Palestinians from Gaza highlights “the absence of an Israeli partner for peace,” the statement continues, “and the persistence in prolonging the occupation and conflict, and denying the just and legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”

It calls for the international community to “reject the crimes of displacement and annexation” and urges the advancement of a two-state solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state.