Gaza strikes kill three as Ben-Gvir unveils seven-year relocation plan
Despite a US-brokered truce, Israeli forces killed at least three people in Gaza while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir proposed a scheme to remove two million Palestinians from the strip over the next decade.
At least three people were killed and several others injured in separate Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Thursday, occurring despite a United States-brokered ceasefire that has been in effect since October. The strikes highlight the fragility of the current truce, which has halted major fighting but has not stopped deadly incursions by Israeli forces.
In the Rimal neighbourhood of western Gaza City, an Israeli drone strike killed one person and injured several others. The Palestinian Wafa news agency reported that the drone fired at least two missiles at a group of civilians in the area. Medical sources on the ground confirmed the casualty figures to Al Jazeera reporters.
Separately, two Palestinians were killed in the northern town of Beit Lahia when Israeli forces opened fire. One of the victims was identified as a 13-year-old child, while the other was an adult who died after being transferred to a medical point. The Israeli military claimed the two individuals were “terrorists who crossed the Yellow Line,” a buffer zone established within Gaza as part of the ceasefire agreement.
Amidst the continued violence, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced a comprehensive plan to remove approximately two million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip within seven years. The proposal aims to establish a dedicated ministry and secure agreements with other countries to accept the relocated population.
Ben-Gvir described the plan as “realistic” and intended to “encourage the emigration of Gaza’s inhabitants” as a solution to the conflict. The initiative sets specific targets, foreseeing the departure of 250,000 people in the first year, 1.1 million within three years, and around 1.9 million within seven years.
The announcement follows statements by Defence Minister Israel Katz, who admitted on Wednesday that Israel is still working to remove Palestinians from Gaza. The displacement issue is contentious, as forced displacement of civilians in occupied territory is considered a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.
The broader conflict, which began in October 2023, has claimed at least 73,470 lives in Gaza. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 1,330 people have been killed since the ceasefire began, underscoring the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
