Israeli defence minister says Gaza depopulation remains the only solution
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has said there is no real solution for Gaza without removing Palestinians from the territory. He made the remarks at a conference organised by the Israeli publication Ynet on Wednesday, reviving controversy over proposals to depopulate the Gaza Strip. Katz said the idea remains the "only solution", according to the supplied report.
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Katz said the Israeli government is prepared to take Gaza "by sea, by air and by any means to do it". He also said US President Donald Trump had not cancelled a previously discussed plan, but had only frozen it. The report says Katz described the issue as something that is "being discussed all the time".
The comments come against the backdrop of a ceasefire agreement that explicitly states Palestinians have the right to remain in their land. The 12-point deal says no one will be forced to leave Gaza and that those who wish to leave will be free to do so and return. The same report says Israel has continued to restrict aid to Gaza and has prevented reconstruction since the ceasefire came into effect in October 2025, while carrying out near-daily attacks against Palestinians.
The remarks are significant because they touch on one of the most sensitive questions in the Gaza conflict: whether Palestinians can remain in the territory after the war. Rights advocates have long argued that depopulation proposals amount to ethnic cleansing, while some far-right Israeli officials have previously called openly for removing Gaza's population. The issue also has regional implications, particularly for Egypt, which borders Gaza and is refusing to take in Palestinian refugees.
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The report says Trump had earlier backed the idea, saying the United States would take over the enclave and own the territory once Palestinians were removed. That proposal drew outrage from Middle Eastern countries, including governments allied with Washington. The later ceasefire language marked a clear contrast, stating that Palestinians should be encouraged to stay and given the opportunity to build a better Gaza.
What remains unclear is whether the comments reflect current policy, internal debate, or a renewed push to revive an earlier plan. The report says countries that might accept displaced Palestinians would require US support, but Washington has not formally dropped the idea. The next developments to watch are any official response from Israel, the United States, Egypt, or other regional actors, and whether the ceasefire framework is affected.
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