A senior member of the Israeli cabinet said an independent Gaza is no longer possible, and that Palestinians living there should "voluntarily" migrate to other countries.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said this is a "humanitarian solution for residents of Gaza and the entire region after 75 years of refugees, poverty and danger", Reuters reported.
"The state of Israel will no longer be able to accept the existence of an independent entity in Gaza," Smotrich (above) said in a Facebook post.
He said the emigration of Gaza's population with the support of the international community and Israel, "is the only solution that will bring to an end the suffering and pain of Jews and Arabs alike”.
His remarks were in support of two Israeli parliamentarians who wrote in the Wall Street Journal that Western countries should accept those emigrating from Gaza.
Gaza is a coastal strip ruled by Hamas and is home to some 2.3 million people - most of whom are refugees from previous wars or were driven out during the formation of the state of Israel in 1948.
'Colonial, racist plans'
Smotrich's remarks underscore fears that the escalating Israeli bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza since Oct 7 is a campaign to drive out Palestinians and reoccupy the land.
Palestinian Authority's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Smotrich's comments reveal Israel's "colonial, racist plan" for Palestinians, Al Jazeera reported.
It also called for international intervention to end Israel's occupation, including in the West Bank.
The broadcaster reported that Israel's Ministry of Intelligence has also outlined a proposal to "evacuate" all Palestinians from Gaza to Egypt, but Egypt rejected the plan.
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said Egypt rejects attempts to justify the displacement of Palestinians and that Smotrich's comments are "an expression of Israel government's policy that violates international laws", Al Jazeera reported.
Smotrich's remarks also come as some Israeli soldiers post videos on social media saying their mission is to "occupy" Gaza.
Israeli forces and settlers left Gaza in 2005, after 38 years of occupation.
The United States last week said it would not support the Israeli reoccupation of Gaza.
However, Israel continued to control Gaza through blockades which bar the movement of goods and people.
More than 11,000 Palestinians have died and more injured in Israel's latest attacks on Gaza following an attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct 7.
More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed since then and more than 200 of them have been taken hostage.
Only four of those hostages have been released, while families of hostages have held protests demanding the Israeli government do more to bring their loved ones to safety. - Mkini
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