Israel denies plans to forcibly deport Palestinians from Gaza

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated on Wednesday that the Israeli government has no plans to forcibly expel or deport Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. Speaking in Ljubljana, Slovenia, during the opening of the Israeli embassy, Saar clarified that while the government will not oppose Palestinians who choose to emigrate voluntarily to other countries, it will not enforce such movement against their will.

This statement follows recent comments from other Israeli officials regarding the population of Gaza. Defence Minister Israel Katz previously suggested there was no long-term solution for the territory without Palestinian migration, and Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir had outlined a seven-year plan for what he termed “voluntary emigration.”

Some Israeli officials have suggested that large-scale migration could be considered if Hamas fails to meet specific commitments, though Saar’s remarks aim to clarify the government's official stance on forced displacement.