Israeli Ministry Drafts Plan to Relocate Gaza Residents to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula

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An Israeli governmental body has formulated a contingency plan that would involve relocating the 2.3 million residents of the Gaza Strip to Egypt’s Sinai region, eliciting strong criticism from Palestinian authorities and straining diplomatic relations with Egypt.

Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has downplayed the proposal, characterizing it as an academic exercise, the document has aggravated existing concerns in Egypt about Israel’s intentions regarding Gaza. Moreover, the plan rekindles painful memories for Palestinians of mass displacement during Israel’s founding in 1948.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, categorically rejected the proposal, stating, “The red line of forced relocation cannot be crossed. The displacement that occurred in 1948 will not be permitted to happen again.” Rudeineh further emphasized that any such mass movement would be equivalent to instigating a new conflict.

Thus far, over 8,000 Palestinians, mostly non-combatants, have been killed since hostilities escalated between Israel and Hamas following an attack by the latter on October 7.

Focus on Israeli Security

Dated October 13, the document was released just days after a significant attack by Hamas militants resulted in over 1,400 casualties in southern Israel and initiated a severe Israeli military response in Gaza. The Intelligence Ministry, a secondary governmental entity not responsible for setting policy, suggested three alternatives to bring about a significant transformation in Gaza’s civilian landscape, prompted by Hamas’s activities that led to the recent conflict, termed the “Sword of Iron war.”

The plan calls for the temporary housing of Gaza’s displaced population in tent cities in northern Sinai before the construction of permanent settlements and an unspecified humanitarian corridor. A security zone within Israel would be established to prevent the return of the relocated Palestinians. The report leaves unanswered the question of Gaza’s fate once emptied of its inhabitants.

Concerns from Egypt and Questions of Feasibility

Egypt’s government has not yet officially commented on the proposal but has previously stated its unwillingness to absorb Palestinian refugees. Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah El-Sissi, has warned that a massive influx could undermine the Palestinian nationalist cause and also introduce security risks in the Sinai region.

Yoel Guzansky, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, opined that the proposal could harm Israel-Egypt relations, stating, “If authentic, this document risks causing a strategic rupture in a crucial diplomatic relationship.”

International Support and Legitimacy

The document alludes to the potential backing of nations like Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, either financially or by accepting relocated Gazans. It also notes Canada’s “permissive” immigration policies as a potential option for resettlement. However, the plan acknowledges the complexities surrounding its international legitimacy. An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, clarified that the document is not binding and has not been seriously discussed within security circles.

Other Options Dismissed

The report dismisses the possibility of reinstating the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority in Gaza, among other reasons, due to its inability to prevent attacks on Israel. The return of the Palestinian Authority, ousted from Gaza in a 2007 conflict that led to Hamas gaining control, would signify “an unprecedented triumph for the Palestinian national movement, costing thousands of Israeli civilian and military lives, without ensuring Israel’s security,” the document concludes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Israeli Proposal for Gaza Relocation to Sinai

More about Israeli Proposal for Gaza Relocation to Sinai

• Israeli Government’s Official Statement on Concept Paper
• Palestinian Authority’s Response to Israeli Proposal
• Egypt’s Stance on Palestinian Relocation
• Background on Israel-Gaza Conflict
• International Law and Forced Population Transfers
• Institute for National Security Studies Commentary
• Canada’s Immigration Policies
• History of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza
• UN Stance on Forced Displacement