Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday that a plan for forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza remained under consideration, though he characterized it as frozen rather than abandoned. Katz said the plan required backing from the United States, which he indicated was not currently available. Speaking at a conference hosted by Israeli media outlets Ynet and Yedioth Ahronot, Katz referred to the proposal under the term "emigration."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said separately that the Israeli military would not withdraw from territory it has occupied in Gaza. Katz attributed the current absence of U.S. support to pressure from Arab countries, which he said had pressed Washington to block the displacement plan in exchange for agreeing to the disarming of Hamas.
Egypt, Katz said, is refusing to cooperate in carrying out such a plan. The remarks appear to indicate that Israeli officials view the proposal as viable if political and international conditions change.
