THE Israeli military has already begun drawing up plans to relocate Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
The move comes after Donald Trump revealed his jaw-dropping plan “Make Gaza Great Again” to turn the enclave into a “Riviera of the Middle East.”
The President’s controversial scheme could see the US troops seizing Gaza and 2 million Palestinians forcibly removed to Egypt and Jordan.
Israel received the surprising proposal with enthusiasm, as Benjamin Netanyahu appreciated Trump’s innovative thinking. Netanyahu commended Trump, saying he was thinking creatively.
And today Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said he has ordered the army to prepare a plan to allow Palestinians to leave Gaza voluntarily.
Netanyahu stated, “I have given orders for the military to develop a strategy that enables any Gaza inhabitant who desires to depart to do so, to any nation that is willing to receive them.”
“The plan will include exit options through land crossings, as well as special arrangements for departure by sea and air.”
The Defence Minister also commented on the situation, accusing Hamas of using Gaza residents as shields and constructing terrorist infrastructure among civilians. He further claimed that Hamas is currently holding the residents captive, extorting money from them under the guise of humanitarian assistance, and preventing them from exiting Gaza.
Katz also praised Trump’s “courageous plan, which could enable a wide swath of the population in Gaza to leave to various places around the world.”
Speaking about potential countries Palestinians could be moved to, he replied: “Countries like Spain, Ireland, Norway and others, which have levelled accusations and false claims against Israel over its actions in Gaza, are legally obligated to allow any Gaza resident to enter their territories.”
Katz also referred to Canada, which has “an organized immigration program and has previously voiced a willingness to absorb Gazan residents.”
He added: “Gaza’s residents should be allowed the freedom to exit and emigrate, as is the practice anywhere around the world.”
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares rejected Katz’s suggestion that Spain should accept displaced Palestinians.
He said during an interview with radio station RNE: “Gazans’ land is Gaza and Gaza must be part of the future Palestinian state.
It comes after Trump unveiled his shocking plan to take over Gaza and move 2 million Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan.
The president described Gaza as a “demolition site” and vowed he would turn it into “something the entire Middle East can be very proud of.”
“The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too…we’re going to develop it, create thousands and thousands of jobs, and it’ll be something that the entire Middle East can be very proud of,” Trump said after the meeting.
When asked about US troops entering Gaza, he responded, “As far as Gaza is concerned, we’ll do what is necessary. If it’s necessary, we’ll do that.”
It is estimated that such a plan could take more than 20 years and involve the US clearing millions of tons of rubble.
Experts told The Sun the scheme could take years to complete and would cost billions and billions of dollars.
But some experts reckon the solution would be welcomed by Palestinians.
Former Israeli intelligence official Avi Melamed argued that Palestinians would be more than happy to get rid of Hamas’s evil regime.
Melamed said Trump’s words sent “an enormous shockwave” across the region.
He said: “It reshuffled the cards. As you expect and understand, there has been robust responses from across the region.
“I would guess that Trump did not out of the blue came up with that statement.
“There has been, there will be, discussion with major Arab players involved, who are relevant.”
Former Mossad agent Avner Avraham admitted that Israel was surprised to hear Trump’s remarks but “was looking forward to see it” and described as the first step to bring peace in the Middle East.
Avner, described the plan as a “creative” idea and said he believes Palestinians would actually welcome it as it would lead to a “normal Palestinian authority”
He told The Sun: “It was a big surprise for many people in Israel.
“I know for sure that Trump is not looking for war, he’s trying to close all the wars between Ukraine and Russia, between Israel and all the countries surrounding Israel.
“He doesn’t want to see Hamas in Gaza anymore.
“Even the Palestinian authority don’t want them because they took over Gaza, and they killed many of the Palestinian authority people.
“I feel that most of the people in Gaza became hostages under the Hamas.”
Trump’s controversial Gaza plan
By Aliki Kraterou
PRESIDENT Trump shocked the world when he announced his controversial plan to take over war-stricken Gaza and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
The scheme “Make Gaza Great Again” could see the US troops seizing the enclave and 2 million Palestinians forcibly removed to Egypt and Jordan.
The president described Gaza as a “demolition site” and vowed he would turn it into “something the entire Middle East can be very proud of.”
Trump said his plan to restructure Gaza would include removing the bombs, redeveloping the buildings, and providing jobs for Gaza’s people.
He said while Palestinians would be able to return, it would be “the world’s people” who live in Gaza.
It is estimated that such a plan could take more than 20 years and involve the US clearing millions of tons of rubble.
The jaw-dropping scheme has sparked condemnation as it would see residents forced out of the enclave.
Arab states rejected his plans – and questions have been raised of their legality in international courts.
