The Israeli 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 third countries through an authority that Defense Minister Israel Katz will establish.
The decision to establish this authority follows US President Donald Trump's statements on the need to allow Palestinians to leave Gaza for third countries. An Israeli official clarified: "The authority will be subject to international law."
The authority will include representatives from several ministries including, the Justice Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Internal Affairs Ministry, Finance Ministry, Transportation Ministry, Strategic Affairs Ministry, as well as representatives from the IDF, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the Shin Bet, the National Security Council, and the Israel Police. Additionally, the authority will be able to coordinate its operations with international organizations and other relevant parties.
What will happen to Gazans?
Until now, Israel has allowed Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip for third countries for medical treatment, for humanitarian reasons. The current goal is to enable the departure of Palestinians in much larger numbers.
Defense Minister Israel 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 Gaza.
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 third 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 a third 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". Minister Bezalel Smotrich told The Jerusalem Post that the "US is working intensely to find third countries that will agree to take in Palestinians from Gaza."