Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, says the government has no plans to expel or deport Palestinians from Gaza. Speaking in Ljubljana, Slovenia on Wednesday, Saar told a press conference, “We are not planning to expel or to deport anyone from (the) Gaza Strip.” The comments come after discussion among Israeli officials about large-scale removal of Gaza’s population.
The reports reference remarks earlier in September by two Israeli ministers who floated proposals for mass removal of Palestinians from the territory. NDTV describes those proposals as being framed by some officials as potentially “voluntary,” with an assertion that Palestinians would prefer to leave but are constrained by Hamas. Across the sources, the main difference is emphasis: one outlet focuses on Saar’s outright denial, while the other highlights how earlier statements are characterized as either forced removal or departure under stated conditions.
Overall, Saar’s position is that deportation or expulsion is not part of government plans, while earlier statements by other ministers have fueled concern about the possibility of large-scale displacement.
