Palestine weekly: Israeli ministers push for depopulation of Gaza | Israel-Palestine conflict News
Israeli Ministers Advocate for Palestinian Expulsion Amid Ongoing Violence
Far-right Israeli ministers have ramped up their calls for the removal of Palestinians from Gaza, proposing timelines and government mechanisms for forced expulsions as violence continues to escalate across Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated at a conference last Wednesday that the removal of Palestinians from Gaza is “the only solution,” asserting that Israel is prepared to carry out such actions “by sea, by air, and by every way possible.” He claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump has only “frozen” support for this initiative, without completely withdrawing it.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir further outlined a seven-year strategy, dubbed “Disengagement 710,” to facilitate the removal of roughly two million residents from Gaza, which he described as “voluntary emigration.” Ben-Gvir also announced plans to establish a Migration Ministry to oversee the expulsion of Palestinians if he is re-elected.
In reaction, the U.S. State Department expressed its opposition to any proposals for the forced displacement of Gaza’s population. However, it did not issue a direct condemnation of either Katz or Ben-Gvir.
Gaza’s Death Toll Climbs Amid Airstrikes
The civilian death toll in Gaza has continued to rise due to near-daily airstrikes. On Tuesday, an Israeli special forces operation near the American hospital in Gaza City resulted in the deaths of at least four Palestinians, including two children and a woman. The operation concluded with the arrest of Moin al-Arabeed, who Israel claims is the head of Hamas’s internal security. Additionally, a drone strike in Jabalia refugee camp on Wednesday killed a child, and another attack in Khan Younis resulted in one death.
On Thursday, two Palestinians, including a 13-year-old, were killed, with Israeli forces stating they had crossed into an Israeli-controlled area. In a separate incident, a drone strike in Gaza City’s Remal neighborhood also resulted in a fatality.
The violence continued through the weekend, with multiple attacks reported. On Sunday, one strike near a school in Gaza City wounded several individuals, while another drone strike near Hamid intersection killed a man and his young daughter.
By Monday, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that a total of 73,658 people have been killed, with 174,622 injured since October 2023. Among these figures, over 1,340 fatalities occurred since the October 2025 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Efforts to recover bodies from the rubble continue, with families in northern Gaza holding funerals for around 100 individuals recently retrieved, many of whom were children.
Raed al-Dahshan, chief of Gaza’s civil defense, estimated that approximately 8,000 bodies may still be trapped under debris, pending the availability of heavy equipment for recovery efforts.
In humanitarian terms, conditions in Gaza have significantly worsened, with the World Health Organization reporting that water contamination has nearly tripled since January. All five wastewater treatment facilities in Gaza are currently non-operational, releasing approximately 55,000 cubic meters of untreated sewage daily.
West Bank Sees Demolitions and Escalating Tensions
In the West Bank, Israeli forces conducted numerous demolitions this past week, particularly affecting the community of Khirbet al-Tabban in Masafer Yatta, where 12 homes were destroyed, leaving around 70 residents homeless. Local council head Nidal Younis emphasized the community’s intent to rebuild despite the devastation.
In Hebron, Israeli forces destroyed four water wells and greenhouses in Beit Ummar, causing damage estimated at $60,000, and demolished a home in Nahalin near Bethlehem. In the Jenin area, hundreds of fruit trees belonging to farmers have been uprooted under military orders issued in August.
The most intense violence transpired in al-Mughayyir, near Ramallah, where settlers and soldiers raided the village. Two teenagers, Khalil Abu Alia, 16, and Mohammad Nassan, 19, were killed during the incident as they attempted to stop alleged livestock theft by settlers. Witnesses reported that Nassan was shot in the back.
Following the raid, mourners experienced violence from Israeli forces, including beatings and the use of pepper spray. Reports from Sunday indicate that Israeli settlers killed Omar Tubasi, 20, and injured three others in the village of Hajja.
Israeli police also shot and killed 33-year-old Ibrahim al-Hendi near Damascus Gate in East Jerusalem, claiming he attempted to stab an officer.
As tensions continue to rise, Israeli settlers remain active in various areas, including attempted water theft and violent confrontations with Palestinian residents.
