Conflict in the Middle East: Israel’s plan for Gaza emigration authority encounters criticism

The establishment of a new authority decided by Israel to “voluntarily” leave Palestinian from the Gaza Strip has triggered criticism in Israel and abroad. The Jordan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spoke of plans for a forced displacement of people from the coastal strip on the Mediterranean. Criticism also came from Germany.

The new authority is to be subordinate to the Israeli Ministry of Defense. It should “prepare the voluntary departure of residents of the Gaza Strip to third countries in a safe and controlled way,” it said. The security cabinet had previously approved a corresponding proposal by Defense Minister Israel Katz. It was not mentioned which third countries should be. African countries had been mentioned in previous media reports.

Special Gaza transitions for the departure

People willing to leave the country should be able to leave Gaza “in compliance with Israeli and international law and in accordance with the vision of US President Donald Trump”, it said. The authority should work “in consultation with international organizations”. Part of the plan are the “setup of special transitions in Gaza and the coordination of infrastructure for trips to land, lake and air to the target countries”.

Katz will soon announce the head of the authority, the statement said. “We use all funds to implement the vision of the US President and enable every resident of Gaza who would like to leave the volunteer to do this.”

Criticism of the federal government

In a first reaction, the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin was rejected by the new authority announced by Israel. You still have to look at that. “But when it comes to establishing an authority that has a permanent displacement, a permanent departure of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip, this is unacceptable and condemned,” said a spokesman.

The Federal Government also condemned the recent recognition of 13 illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. “We reject Israel’s settlement policy because it is contrary to international law and it is installing every chance of a two -state solution by installing a viable Palestinian state there,” said the speaker.

Jordan also criticized the recognition of the settlements. All measures that were directed against the presence of the Palestinians on their country are a blatant break in international law, the Foreign Ministry said.

Arab countries reject Gaza refugees

Jordan is one of the countries worldwide that have taken up the largest number of refugees per citizen. Many Palestinians and Syrians live in the state. An estimated 30 to 40 percent of all Jordanians have Palestinian roots, including Queen Rania. The kingdom of Jordan, which is considered to be an anchor in the crisis in the crisis region, rejects the admission of further Palestinian refugees, as well as Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

The Israeli peace movement Peace Now condemned the creation of the new exit authority on platform X as a “indelible eyesore” for Israel. “If life in a certain place is made impossible by bombing and siege, it is not” voluntary “when people go,” it said.

Katz had already instructed the army to work out a corresponding plan for Gaza in February after Trump proposed to move two million Palestinians from the coastal strip. The US President had announced that the USA would “take over” the Gaza Strip and transform it into an economically flourishing “Riviera of the Middle East”.

Katz threatens to take parts of Gazas

Katz had already threatened last week that Israel would take parts of the Gaza Strip permanently if the hostages are not released. The longer the Hamas Winere, to released hostages, the more territory it will lose, which is then incorporated.

More than Palestinian 50,000 deaths in the Gaza War

Israel had resumed the massive attacks in the Gaza Strip a week ago after both sides could not agree on an extension of the ceasefire that came into force in January. Since then, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed. According to the health authority controlled by the Hamas, the number of people killed in one and a half years of war in the coastal strip already exceeded 50,000.

The goal of the new military offensive is not clear. The Palestinians also tried to understand “whether this is something limited that should make the positions of the Hamas more flexible so that the hostages are released, or whether it is the beginning of a wider plan, the goal of which is the complete takeover of the gaza strip”.

Israel’s Foreign Minister: Gaza War “can end tomorrow”

The trigger of the Gaza War was the attack by Hamas and other extremist groups on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which around 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 Israelis were dragged into the Gaza strip. According to Israeli information, 24 hostages are still recorded in the Gaza Strip. In addition, there are 35 bodies.

The EU foreign commissioner Kaja Kallas condemned the new attacks in the Gaza Strip during a visit to the region and called for the resumption of humanitarian aid. The Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said at a meeting with Kallas in Jerusalem: “The war can end tomorrow – with the release of the hostages, the demilitarization of Gazas and the trigger of the armed forces of Hamas and Islamic jihads from there.”