Key facts
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that "voluntary emigration" of Palestinians from Gaza remains on the agenda.
- Netanyahu avoided direct comment on the establishment of Jewish settlements in Gaza.
- Critics have described "voluntary emigration" as a euphemism for ethnic cleansing.
- Since October 7, new settlements and army bases have been constructed in the West Bank.
- Settler violence has forcibly displaced thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank since October 2023.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended his government's policies, stating that the "voluntary emigration" of Palestinians from Gaza remains on the agenda. In an interview with Channel 14, Netanyahu was pressed on issues central to his coalition's right flank, including the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza and the establishment of Jewish settlements there. He confirmed that "voluntary emigration" was still a consideration but declined to directly address the settlement question, stating a preference for action over discussion.
Critics have widely described the concept of "voluntary emigration" as a euphemism for ethnic cleansing. These remarks follow Netanyahu's recent statement that there is "no room for two states" between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.
Additional reporting indicates that since October 7, 18 new settlements and eight new army bases have been constructed in the West Bank, accelerating a far-right campaign to ethnically cleanse northern areas. Settler violence and military raids have forcibly displaced at least 4,635 Palestinians in the West Bank since October 2023, with new settlements rapidly being established to create "facts on the ground."