Israel denied on Saturday claims by Hamas of “positive indicators” for launching talks over the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal.
The Hamas statement came after US officials held direct talks with the terrorist group in Doha on Tuesday about releasing more American hostages. Israeli officials were not enthusiastic about the talks.
Meanwhile, demonstrators at a Tel Aviv rally are pressing the government to agree to the continuation of the deal that will allow all of the hostages to be returned.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday evening was holding a telephone situational assessment regarding negotiations on the deal.
The security cabinet, which will convene on Sunday, is expected to approve the expansion of the voluntary exit option for Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to other countries through an authority that Defense Minister Israel Katz will establish.
Decision follows Trump's statements on Palestinians leaving Gaza
The decision to establish this authority follows US President Donald Trump’s statements on the need to allow Palestinians to leave Gaza for other countries. An Israeli official clarified: “The authority will be subject to international law.”
The authority will include representatives from several ministries including Justice, Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, Finance, Transportation, and Strategic Affairs, as well as representatives from the IDF, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the Shin Bet (Israel Security Service), the National Security Council, and the Israel Police. The authority will also be able to coordinate its operations with international organizations and other relevant parties.
Until now, Israel has allowed Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip for other countries for medical treatment, for humanitarian reasons. The current goal is to enable the departure of Palestinians in much larger numbers.
Katz announced on February 17 that he intends to establish an authority for the voluntary departure of Palestinians from Gaza, and the official approval that will be granted by the cabinet will allow the expansion of voluntary movement for Palestinians from the Strip.
According to the proposal to be presented to the ministers, the authority “will facilitate the controlled movement of Palestinians within Israel for their exit to other countries, provide security and escort for their movement, establish a designated travel route and pedestrian checks at Gaza border crossings, and create infrastructure to allow land, sea, and air passage to destination countries.”
Israel is preparing to facilitate the voluntary movement of Palestinians from Gaza to another country via the Ashdod Port and Ramon Airport. Some even claim that once this option is made available, “thousands of Palestinians will leave Gaza every day.” Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich told The Jerusalem Post that the “US is working intensely to find other countries that will agree to take in Palestinians from Gaza.”