Israel mulling start of Gaza mass migration in October – report

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly holding meetings with senior officials to discuss possible implementation of plan next month to facilitate the mass migration of Gazans out of the Gaza Strip.

By World Israel News Staff

The Israeli government is mulling plans to begin efforts to facilitate the mass migration of Gazans out of the war-torn coastal enclave as soon as next month, according to reports in the Israeli media.

On Thursday afternoon, The Times of Israel published a report citing the office of an Israeli official who attended a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that day on the subject of mass migration.

The meeting reportedly included top security officials and members of the Israeli Cabinet.

According to a report by Israel’s Channel 13, Netanyahu is considering pushing for the mass migration plan to be implemented starting in October. Drafts of the plan put together by the defense establishment reportedly would enable Gazans to leave the Strip via sea and air.

Israel has for months sought to aid Gazan civilians looking to leave the area, with thousands of residents exiting the Strip for third-party states via Israel.

Most of the migrants traveled to Jordan via the Allenby Crossing or were granted safe passage through Israeli territory to Ramon Airport near Eilat.

However, the number of emigrants has been limited by the lack of host countries willing to take in refugees en masse. Until now, only Gazans with dual citizenship or relatives abroad petitioning them for residency status have managed to secure travel permits.

In addition, several third-party states have permitted Gazans seeking medical treatment to enter, along with their immediate relatives.

Under the plan presented at Thursday’s meeting, Gazans would be granted entry into one or more of the African countries currently in talks with the Israeli government.

There have been no reports thus far of an agreement being inked with any of the countries in question.

Netanyahu’s office declined to comment on the report.