Itamar Ben Gvir unveils a "voluntary emigration" party plan for 1.86 million Gazans
Named "Disengagement 710." The plan calls for 250,000 departures in the first year, 1.11 million within three years, and 1.86 million within seven years
The Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, presented on Thursday a plan aimed at encouraging the departure of the vast majority of the Palestinian population from Gaza, as part of what he describes as "voluntary emigration." The project, unveiled during the election campaign ahead of the October 27 vote, notably calls for the creation of a ministry specifically responsible for this policy.
Named "Disengagement 710," in reference to the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza in 2005 and the October 7, 2023 attack, the plan sets several targets: 250,000 departures in the first year, 1.11 million in three years, and 1.86 million in seven years.
"Instead of illusions of peace now, we need actions of emigration now," said Ben Gvir, adding that the creation and leadership of a "Ministry of Emigration" would be among the main demands of his Otzma Yehudit party to participate in the next government.
The plan provides for an "integration package" for Gazans who agree to leave, including travel assistance, initial housing, vocational training, employment, and support lasting up to 24 months. Financial aid would also be given to host countries based on the number of people received. Turkey, Ethiopia, Congo, as well as several unspecified Arab countries are among the proposed destinations.
Otzma Yehudit estimates that the program would require an initial investment of 10 billion shekels, followed by up to an additional 50 billion, subject to international participation.
Ben Gvir also cited previous statements by Donald Trump in favor of a mass departure of the inhabitants of Gaza, believing that these had helped to make his plan more politically acceptable.
The proposal comes a day after statements by Defense Minister Israel Katz, who said that plans aimed at facilitating a mass emigration from Gaza are still under review but were "frozen" by Donald Trump. The American president had proposed in February 2025 to relocate about 2.3 million inhabitants of Gaza before abandoning the idea in the face of international opposition and the lack of countries willing to receive them.