Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has introduced a contentious initiative dubbed ‘Disengagement 710,’ which aims to remove nearly the entire Palestinian population from Gaza over the next seven years. The proposal has become a cornerstone of his election campaign, with his Otzma Yehudit party demanding the establishment of a dedicated Emigration Ministry as a non-negotiable condition for joining any future governing coalition.
The scale of the plan is significant, targeting the forced removal of 250,000 Palestinians within the first year. This figure is projected to climb to 1.11 million people within three years and reach approximately 1.86 million—covering almost the entire population of the enclave—by the end of the seven-year period. The proposal outlines a financial framework requiring an initial investment of 10 billion shekels, or roughly US$ 3.3 billion, with total costs potentially reaching 50 billion shekels depending on the cooperation of foreign nations in accepting the displaced individuals.
Legal experts and human rights advocates have sharply criticized the initiative, noting that the forcible transfer of civilians from occupied territory is a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Dr. Munir Nuseibah, a human rights lawyer and professor at Al-Quds University, argues that the plan constitutes a crime against humanity. He asserts that the term ‘disengagement’ is being used to mask what is essentially a continuation of displacement policies dating back to the 1948 Nakba, aimed at clearing land for Israeli colonization.
While Ben-Gvir frames the departures as voluntary, critics argue that the term loses all meaning under the current conditions in Gaza. The enclave has been devastated by ongoing conflict, with widespread destruction of housing, restricted access to basic necessities, and severe limitations on movement. Nuseibah notes that residents are currently living in extreme density, often in tents, and struggling daily to secure food, water, and essential services. He emphasizes that when a population is deprived of jobs, education, and shelter, any decision to leave is driven by the necessity of survival rather than genuine choice.
International reaction has been swift and largely condemnatory. Eight Arab and Muslim nations, including Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Qatar, have formally rejected the displacement of Palestinians, labeling it a breach of international law and a dangerous attempt to alter the demographic reality of the region. UN human rights experts have echoed these concerns, warning that the policy amounts to forced transfer regardless of the terminology used by its proponents.
The political maneuvering behind the plan suggests a broader competition within Israel’s far-right wing regarding the post-war future of Gaza. While Ben-Gvir seeks to position himself to the right of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, other figures, such as former general Ofer Winter, have floated similar concepts. Reports indicate that Defence Minister Israel Katz has suggested Israel is awaiting potential US approval to proceed, though the US administration has previously shifted its stance, moving from earlier proposals of Palestinian departure to a position that the population should remain in the enclave.
Despite the push from Ben-Gvir, the proposal faces significant hurdles. Netanyahu has reportedly expressed reservations about the plan during cabinet discussions. Nevertheless, by making the creation of an Emigration Ministry a condition for coalition negotiations following the October elections, Ben-Gvir ensures that his vision for Gaza will remain a central and divisive issue in Israeli domestic politics. The report also notes that the scale of the proposal leaves little ambiguity about what it would mean in practice. The report also notes that the proposal is built around the premise that Palestinians in Gaza can simply be relocated elsewhere. The report also notes that along with funding, legal status, housing and a support package, each person leaving would reportedly be assigned a destination country. The report also notes that but Palestinians in Gaza have made clear that they do not want to leave their homes or be removed from their homeland. The report also notes that for them, the question is why they should be expected to surrender their homes and land in the first place. The report also notes that displacing Palestinians from their homes to create Jewish-majority areas in regions it has been colonising ever since.”, this is something Israel has been doing since the Nakba of 1948. The report also notes that “Now the Zionist ambition is to colonise Gaza, and the objective is to displace Palestinians, evict them from Gaza, ethnically cleanse them, and then make Gaza ready for Israeli colonisation,” Nuseibah adds. The report also notes that ben Gvir has also put a price tag on the project.
