Ben-Gvir Says Displacing Palestinians from Gaza Would Be 'Doing Them a Favor'

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has described the potential removal of millions of Palestinians from Gaza as a humanitarian measure, arguing that deteriorated conditions in the territory make departure a favor to its residents.

“Conditions for people in Gaza aren’t good. I want to send them out of Gaza. I’m humanitarian, okay? I’m doing them a favor. I’m getting them out of there,” Ben-Gvir said in a podcast interview.

From “Humanitarian” Exit to Gaza Real Estate

Ben-Gvir said the departure of Palestinians would also serve Israeli security interests.

“If we get the Palestinians out of Gaza, that means more lives for us,” he said.

He then linked the same policy to Israeli settlement and redevelopment of the territory.

“And then Gaza can become a real-estate arena. It can become a beautiful coastal gem. Settlements need to be built there. A lot of things need to be done there.”

The comments underline the broader political objective Ben-Gvir has attached to what he describes as “voluntary migration”: removing most of Gaza’s Palestinian population while opening the territory to renewed Israeli settlement.

A Plan for Most of Gaza’s Population

Ben-Gvir said he believes between 1.7 million and 1.8 million of Gaza’s roughly 2 million residents could become migrants.

He claimed surveys he commissioned showed that 60% of Gazans wanted to leave immediately, and said several countries had indicated they would accept Palestinians in exchange for financial or other benefits.

“There were at least four countries in the last two years that said they were willing to take in Gazans,” he said.

Earlier in September, ahead of Israel’s October 27 elections, Ben-Gvir presented a seven-year proposal called “Disengagement 710.”

The plan envisaged creating a government ministry to oversee emigration, providing financial incentives to Palestinians who leave and to countries that receive them, and moving 250,000 people during its first year.

Its seven-year target was nearly 1.86 million people, most of Gaza’s population.

Ben-Gvir’s party listed Türkiye, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo among possible destinations.

Forced “Voluntary” Migration

Ben-Gvir and his allies maintain that the policy would not amount to forced expulsion.

Palestinian officials, some Israeli opposition figures, UN experts and international lawyers have challenged that characterization.

They argue that widespread destruction, restrictions on aid and shelter, and the absence of a genuine right of return could make the choice to leave inherently coercive.

Forced displacement of civilians from occupied territory is prohibited under the Geneva Conventions and can constitute a war crime.

Hamas and other Palestinian voices have rejected the proposal and said Gaza’s residents would not abandon their land.

Israeli Government Has Already Built a Mechanism

Defense Minister Israel Katz has advanced a similar position, saying there is “no real solution for Gaza without this migration.”

Katz has said Israel would be prepared to move people “by sea, by air, by every way possible” if circumstances permitted.

A Defense Ministry directorate tasked with facilitating emigration was established in 2025.

Ben-Gvir Says Israel Missed Chance to Bomb Gaza

Ben-Gvir also used the interview to revisit Israeli policy before the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attack.

He said that one week before the assault he had urged the cabinet to bomb Gaza and conduct targeted killings, but that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials rejected his position.

Ben-Gvir called that decision “a huge missed opportunity.”