From the Liveblog of
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Smotrich: Gaza emigration to start within weeks, Gazans have nothing to look for there in next 10-15 years
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
In an interview with “Meet the Press” on Channel 12, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich says that Israel is actively in touch with Washington to discuss the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s plan to move residents of the Gaza Strip abroad.
“The process of emigration from Gaza will begin in the coming weeks,” Smotrich states.
“Gazans will have nothing to look for in Gaza in the next 10-15 years. After we return to fighting and all of Gaza looks like Jabalia — they will have nothing to look for there at all.”
In a joint appearance with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump last week called to permanently relocate the entire population of the Gaza Strip, insisting the Palestinians “have no alternative” but to leave the “big pile of rubble” that is Gaza after over 15 months of Israeli bombardment targeting Hamas.
Afterward, Defense Minister Israel Katz said he had instructed the military to prepare a plan that would enable Gazans seeking to leave the Strip voluntarily to do so.
In January, Smotrich said that he was working to turn Trump’s ideas about Gaza into an actionable policy. He has previously stated that Israel should occupy Gaza and “encourage” half of the Strip’s 2.2 million Palestinians to emigrate within two years.
Smotrich has threatened to quit the government if it doesn’t resume fighting after the ongoing first phase of the ceasefire and hostage deal with Hamas.
The Times of Israel Community.