Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has said the country could resume full-scale military operations in Gaza and pursue a plan to facilitate the departure of Palestinians from the territory.
Katz made the remarks on Wednesday while responding to criticism from another right-wing political contender ahead of Israel’s October 27 elections.
He said about 70 percent of Gaza had already been emptied of its population during Israel’s military campaign, launched after the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.
Katz said Israel’s military was prepared to resume operations if Hamas failed to disarm, adding that the government could then implement its proposed “migration plan.”
Israel has previously described the plan as voluntary. Katz said earlier this month that preparations were in place to facilitate Palestinians leaving Gaza by land and sea, but that the United States was still involved in discussions over potential destinations.
US Ambassador Mike Huckabee has denied that Washington supports forcibly removing Palestinians from Gaza.
The comments come despite an October 2025 ceasefire that halted large-scale fighting. Israeli strikes have continued in Gaza, however, with more than 1,300 Palestinians reportedly killed since the truce began, according to Gaza health authorities.
The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.
