Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tasked the Mossad, Israel’s foreign intelligence agency, with identifying countries willing to accept large numbers of Palestinians displaced from Gaza, according to Israeli officials cited by Axios. This effort aligns with Netanyahu’s broader strategy to encourage Palestinian displacement, as his government continues military operations in Gaza. The initiative echoes previous proposals, including U.S. President Donald Trump’s unrealized plan to relocate Gaza’s entire population.
Israeli officials confirm that Mossad has initiated secret negotiations with Somalia and South Sudan—both fragile, conflict-ridden nations in East Africa—alongside discussions with other countries, including Indonesia. Netanyahu assigned Mossad this task weeks ago, but the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment. The Israeli Cabinet has approved a Ministry of Defense directorate to oversee what it describes as the “willful departure” of Palestinians.
Israel’s war has already displaced 90% of Gaza’s population, with over 50,000 killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Despite enduring immense suffering, many Palestinians strongly oppose any forced removal from their homeland. The Palestinian Authority, multiple Arab nations, and most Western countries have long rejected efforts to displace Gaza’s population. While some countries have accepted small numbers of wounded Palestinians, no nation has agreed to take in mass numbers of displaced civilians.
Netanyahu and his senior officials have signaled intentions to seize more territory in Gaza if Hamas does not release remaining hostages. Israeli leaders have also discussed a large-scale ground invasion that would push most of Gaza’s population into a designated “humanitarian area” in the south of the enclave. Despite efforts by ultranationalist Israeli officials like Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, who openly spoke about expelling thousands of Palestinians daily, the international community has widely condemned such measures as potential war crimes.
Trump’s team is currently focused on negotiating a ceasefire and hostage release rather than actively pursuing mass displacement plans. Egypt and Jordan have firmly opposed any large-scale relocation of Palestinians into their territories. While the Israeli government continues to explore options, no country has yet agreed to take in the displaced population from Gaza.
