Israel Prepared to Move Palestinians Out of Gaza 'by Sea and Air': Katz

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel is fully prepared to move Palestinians out of Gaza "by sea and air" if an opportunity emerges, as he described migration as central to the territory’s future.

“There is no real solution for Gaza in the end without this migration,” Katz said. “We are fully prepared to move them out if it becomes possible, by sea, by air, by every way possible.”

U.S. Backing Seen As Critical

Katz said the principal obstacle was not Israeli readiness, but the absence of countries prepared to receive Palestinians without support from Washington.

He said Egypt was unwilling to serve as an exit route and that other potential receiving countries wanted U.S. backing before proceeding.

“What’s delaying it is that the accepting countries want US support,” Katz said.

According to Katz, U.S. President Donald Trump had not abandoned the issue but had frozen it following pressure from Arab states.

Katz said circumstances could change if Hamas failed to meet its commitments.

At that point, he said, Israel could receive approval to advance “militarily, territorially, and in other areas,” giving the migration effort renewed momentum.

'Most of Gaza is Desolate'

The defense minister said between 60% and 70% of Gaza was now desolate, adding that roughly 70% of the territory had no residents, houses or tunnels.

He separately said Israel had “destroyed 70% of Gaza.”

Katz claimed that 80% of Palestinians in Gaza wanted to migrate, citing surveys that he said were conducted regularly.

He also claimed that Hamas was preventing them from leaving and that countries willing to accept them had yet to emerge without U.S. support.

Lebanon and West Bank Operations

Katz also pointed to Israeli operations beyond Gaza, saying areas of southern Lebanon and dozens of villages he described as Hezbollah strongholds had been destroyed.

He said 200,000 residents had been evacuated.

In the West Bank, Katz said Israeli forces had taken control of refugee camps and remained inside them. He said 40,000 residents had been evacuated and had not returned.

According to Katz, the Israeli military destroyed infrastructure in those areas and killed militants.

Katz also rejected the term “Jewish terror” in relation to violence in the West Bank, saying he had canceled its use.

“There is no Jewish terror in the West Bank. I’ve canceled that term,” he said.