Conflict & Security
Gaza removal plan draws Hamas call to Arab nations
Hamas called on Arab and Muslim countries on Friday to oppose proposals by Israeli ministers to remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and send them abroad.
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said statements by ministers in Israel's government about displacement plans were an “extremely dangerous development”. He urged Arab and Islamic countries to take unified action against the plans.
Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir laid out a plan on Thursday that aims for 250,000 Palestinians to leave Gaza in the first year, followed by the rest of the territory's roughly two million residents over the next six years.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said a day earlier that Israel was ready to remove Palestinians from Gaza by sea and land, but was waiting for the United States, which he said was discussing places for the population to go.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich had earlier also proposed removing Palestinians from the West Bank, where Israeli settlers have been carrying out more attacks.
Forced displacement of civilians in occupied territory is considered a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. Almost the entire population of Gaza has already been displaced internally during Israeli bombing since the October 7, 2023 attacks led by Hamas.
US President Donald Trump earlier proposed removing Palestinians from Gaza and turning the Mediterranean territory into a luxury resort. He later backtracked after pushback from countries including Egypt, the only country other than Israel to border Gaza.
Update
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem called the Israeli ministers' statements an extremely dangerous development.
Itamar Ben Gvir's plan aims for 250,000 Palestinians to leave Gaza in the first year and the remaining roughly two million over the next six years.
Israel Katz said Israel was ready to remove Palestinians from Gaza by sea and land while waiting for the United States to discuss destinations.
Bezalel Smotrich had also proposed removing Palestinians from the West Bank.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 September 2026 at 14:18:39 UTC.
Update
Hamas urged Arab and Muslim nations to oppose an Israeli ministers' Gaza proposal.
Source note: AFP news report published on 4 September 2026 at 13:32:05 UTC.
Update
Netanyahu said Israel controls 60 percent of the Gaza Strip.
The visit was described as Netanyahu's first to Gaza since the Israel-Hamas ceasefire came into effect in October 2025.
Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel had plans to remove Palestinians from Gaza and was waiting for the United States to determine where they could go.
Gaza's health ministry said Israeli operations had killed at least 1,334 people since the ceasefire took effect, while the Israeli army reported five soldiers and one civilian contractor killed over the same period.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 September 2026 at 14:06:01 UTC.
Update
Benjamin Netanyahu visited troops in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday.
He said Israeli forces would not withdraw from their positions despite a US-declared ceasefire.
He spoke near the so-called Yellow Line, which demarcates areas under Hamas and Israeli military control.
Netanyahu said: “We control the area. We are not retreating. We are staying on this line.”
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 September 2026 at 12:46:03 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
It is unclear how far the proposals by Israeli ministers would be followed by action.
Source
AFP news report published on .