TEL AVIV, Israel — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has renewed calls to “allow” Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip, as Israel’s military prepares to widen its offensive in the territory.
In a rare interview with Israeli broadcaster i24NEWS, Netanyahu insisted the government was not forcing residents out but providing them “the opportunity to leave” both combat zones and Gaza entirely. He compared the idea to refugee movements during wars in Syria, Ukraine, and Afghanistan.
“We will allow this, first of all within Gaza during the fighting, and we will certainly allow them to leave Gaza as well,” Netanyahu said.
Israel has long imposed strict border controls on Gaza, severely limiting exits for its more than two million residents. Critics say any large-scale displacement would echo the “Nakba” — the mass expulsion and flight of Palestinians during Israel’s creation in 1948. Netanyahu has previously supported a proposal from US President Donald Trump to relocate Gazans to Egypt and Jordan, a move condemned by Palestinian leaders and widely criticized internationally.
The comments come as Egypt, Qatar, and the United States intensify efforts to broker a 60-day ceasefire and secure the release of hostages held in Gaza. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said the talks aim to enable unrestricted delivery of humanitarian and medical aid to the territory. A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Wednesday for what the group described as “preliminary talks.”
Netanyahu said he opposed the staggered release of hostages, insisting that all should be freed as part of a deal to end the war “under our conditions.”
Meanwhile, Gaza’s civil defense agency reports that Israeli air strikes on Gaza City have sharply increased in recent days, killing at least 33 people on Tuesday alone. Spokesman Mahmud Bassal described “extremely intense” bombardment using bombs, drones, and highly explosive munitions.
Among the recent casualties were four Al Jazeera employees and two freelance reporters killed outside a Gaza City hospital. Israel alleged that one of the journalists was affiliated with Hamas.
The conflict, now in its 22nd month, has drawn mounting criticism over the humanitarian toll. UN-backed experts warn that famine is spreading due to severe restrictions on aid. According to Gaza’s health ministry, whose figures are deemed credible by the United Nations, Israeli operations have killed at least 61,599 Palestinians, most of them women and children.
Netanyahu faces growing domestic pressure to both bring home the 49 remaining hostages — including 27 believed dead — and deliver on his vow to expand Israel’s campaign in Gaza.
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