Ben-Gvir Unveils Gaza Emigration Plan, Targeting 1.8 Million Palestinians

Israeli Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir plans to present a program on Thursday, September 3rd, advocating for the "voluntary migration" of Palestinians from Gaza. The initiative, dubbed "Disengagement 710," is intended as a key component of his Otzma Yehudit party's election campaign and a core demand for any future coalition negotiations. Ben-Gvir anticipates significant international backlash, which he reportedly sees as a way to draw attention to his proposal among Israeli voters.

Despite no country currently agreeing to accept migrants from Gaza, Ben-Gvir believes the issue can be resolved with sufficient effort. The idea of relocating Gazans has been discussed in various forms since October 7th. Former US President Donald Trump voiced support for such a possibility in February 2025, which was met with strong backing in Israel. The Israeli government reportedly explored contacting African nations like Ethiopia, Congo, and Somaliland to discuss accepting Palestinians, but these efforts stalled. Trump later shifted his stance, and a US plan emphasized that Gazans would remain in the sector and voluntary emigration would not be encouraged.

A senior Israeli official commented that emigration requires both willing individuals and accepting countries, suggesting the latter is scarcer. "If people wanted to leave and there was a country ready to accept them, it would already be happening," the official stated, noting that limited departures for medical treatment or study occur, with a slightly larger exodus to Egypt early in the war.

Ben-Gvir's "Disengagement 710" program outlines a phased approach: 250,000 residents in the first year, 1.11 million within three years, and approximately 1.86 million within seven years. For each individual or family, the plan includes a tailored route with an approved destination country, legal status, travel funding, initial housing, job training, and up to 24 months of support. Potential destinations mentioned include Turkey, Ethiopia, and Congo.

The program is based on 12 principles, emphasizing voluntary departure, secure legal status in a destination country, family unity, and a wide range of destination countries. It also includes provisions for employment, education, medical care, family reunification, and community support, with payments to host countries contingent on results. The plan calls for individual security checks, international partnerships, annual targets, and transparent monthly reporting. The estimated cost is substantial, with initial Israeli investment of 10 billion shekels and a potential adjustment framework of up to 50 billion shekels, pending international cooperation.

Ben-Gvir proposes establishing a dedicated government agency, possibly a ministry, to manage voluntary emigration. The success of his initiative hinges on the formation of the next government, particularly if it is right-wing. This program also appears to be an attempt by Ben-Gvir to outmaneuver Prime Minister Netanyahu and rival Ofer Winter, who has also included voluntary emigration from Gaza in his platform.