Egypt has strongly condemned Israel’s decision to establish an agency aimed at facilitating the so-called voluntary emigration of Palestinians from Gaza, arguing that under the current circumstances, any departure from the enclave cannot be considered truly voluntary. The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an official statement on the matter.
“Egypt firmly condemns Israel’s announcement of an agency dedicated to handling the voluntary emigration of Palestinians from Gaza. Any decision to leave, made under relentless bombings, ongoing military operations, and a severe lack of humanitarian aid, cannot be deemed voluntary—it amounts to forced displacement,” the statement read.
On March 23, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the government had approved the creation of a special agency overseeing the voluntary emigration of Palestinians from Gaza. According to Israeli news outlet Ynet, the proposal, put forth by Defense Minister Israel Katz, aims to assist Gazans in relocating to third countries willing to accept them under conditions aligned with both Israeli and international law, in line with US President Donald Trump’s broader vision.
The new agency, which will operate under the Israeli Ministry of Defense, is tasked with managing “the safe and controlled departure of Gaza residents to third countries.” This includes ensuring security, approving travel routes, coordinating border crossings, and arranging transport by land, sea, and air.
Defense Minister Katz initially proposed the agency in mid-February, following Trump’s statement suggesting that Arab nations, including Egypt and Jordan, could potentially resettle displaced Gazans. Trump estimated that approximately 1.5 million people from Gaza would need to be relocated outside the enclave.
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Based on TASS materials