Three Killed in Gaza as Israeli Minister Unveils Plan for Mass Displacement

Recent Israeli attacks have resulted in the deaths of at least three individuals and left several others injured across Gaza, coinciding with the revelation of an Israeli official plan to remove Palestinians from the Strip.

Medical sources on the ground reported that an Israeli drone strike in the Rimal neighbourhood of western Gaza City killed one person and injured several others on Thursday. The Palestinian Wafa news agency stated that the drone fired at least two missiles targeting a group of civilians in the area.

In a separate incident in the northern town of Beit Lahia, two Palestinians lost their lives and others sustained injuries when Israeli forces opened fire, according to Wafa. Nour Khaled, a reporter in Gaza, noted that one of the victims was a 13-year-old child, while the second victim was an adult who suffered serious injuries and passed away after being transferred to a medical facility.

The Israeli military stated that its forces identified two individuals crossing the Yellow Line in northern Gaza and neutralized them to eliminate a perceived threat. The Yellow Line functions as a buffer zone established under a ceasefire agreement. Despite a United States-brokered ceasefire implemented in October that halted major fighting, deadly Israeli strikes continue to occur.

Meanwhile, Itamar Ben-Gvir unveiled a proposal on Thursday detailing the removal of approximately two million Palestinians from the Gaza Strip over a seven-year span. According to his office, the initiative involves creating a dedicated ministry and securing agreements with other nations to accept people from Gaza. The timeline projects the departure of 250,000 individuals in the first year, 1.1 million within three years, and roughly 1.9 million within seven years. Ben-Gvir described the initiative as a realistic measure to encourage emigration as a resolution to the conflict.

Additionally, Israel Katz acknowledged on Wednesday that efforts regarding the removal of Palestinians from Gaza remain ongoing. The forced displacement of civilians within occupied territory constitutes a war crime under the Geneva Conventions. The ongoing offensive has internally displaced the majority of Gaza's population since October 2023, with total fatalities reaching at least 73,470, including more than 1,330 deaths reported since the ceasefire began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.