From the Liveblog of
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Sa’ar: Plan to move Gazans into ‘humanitarian’ zone aims to protect civilians, not force emigration
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleNava Freiberg is The Times of Israel's deputy diplomatic correspondent.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar addresses the humanitarian situation in Gaza and urges European action against Iran’s nuclear program at a joint press conference in Vienna alongside Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
Responding to a question on Defense Minister Israel Katz’s call earlier this week for the IDF to prepare to relocate Gaza’s population of over two million into a “humanitarian city” in the south of the Strip, Sa’ar emphasizes that Israel remains committed to minimizing civilian casualties during its war against Hamas, and that any evacuations are temporary and part of that goal.
Throughout the war, Sa’ar says, Israel evacuated the population “from several battlefields for its own safety.” These were not permanent, he adds, noting that during the January ceasefire, “people returned to their places.” Many of those areas, however, had been severely damaged by Israeli airstrikes.
“Everything, even this idea, is in the context of international law and the evacuation of population for its own safety from places which are actually battlefields,” Sa’ar says.
The foreign minister rejects claims of Israeli plans to expel Gaza’s residents: “Every emigration from the Gaza Strip, like from any other part of the world, including conflict areas, must be based on two conditions: first, the free choice of the emigrant, and on the other side a country which is willing to accept. Under any other conditions, it is not relevant.”
Under Katz’s proposal, Gaza’s civilians would be vetted and concentrated in the southern zone while the IDF secures the perimeter and international organizations manage the area, which the Gazans wouldn’t be allowed to leave. Four new humanitarian aid distribution sites would also be established in the zone. The plan drew concerns from critics fearing that Israel would settle evacuated areas in Gaza, though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied that this is part of the plan.
Speaking about Israel’s military campaign against Iran’s nuclear program last month, Sa’ar condemns Tehran’s announcement last week that it would cease cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, stating: “The IAEA oversight must be restored.”
He repeats his call for Europe to reimplement sanctions against Tehran, saying: “It’s time for the E3 countries — Germany, France, and the United Kingdom — to activate the snapback against the Iranian regime.”
The Times of Israel Community.