In a report originally published in Israel Hayom, historian Dr. Yoav Gelber sheds light on Israel’s covert efforts to encourage the emigration of Gaza’s residents, a strategy dating back to the years following the Six-Day War. The report delves into the historical and current plans for Palestinian relocation, touching on some notable moments, including a tragic incident in 1970 that exposed the program to the public.
The 1970 Embassy Incident: A Foreshadowing of the Emigration Effort
The story begins in May 1970, when two Gaza migrants, Talal al-Damsi and Khaled Abdul Qassab, entered the Israeli Embassy in Asuncion, Paraguay, where they fatally shot the ambassador’s secretary, Edna Peer. They had been among the many Gaza residents persuaded to emigrate abroad, particularly to Paraguay, under a secret initiative led by Israeli intelligence agencies, including Mossad and Shin Bet. The promise was simple: financial support, including airline tickets and a few hundred dollars, in exchange for relocation. Some migrants, like al-Damsi and Qassab, were even promised agricultural land in Paraguay.
During their trial, al-Damsi and Qassab claimed they were abandoned by the Israeli agents who had promised to meet them. After fruitless attempts to contact the Israeli Embassy, they attempted to assassinate Ambassador Benjamin Varon. The assassination attempt failed, but the murder of Edna Peer drew international attention, inadvertently unveiling Israel’s secret mechanism for encouraging emigration from Gaza. This system had relocated around 50,000 Palestinians, largely refugees from 1948, dispersing them to countries across the globe.
Ada Sereni and the Emigration Mechanism
This program was initially established under Prime Minister Levi Eshkol’s tenure, led by Ada Sereni, a key figure in the Mossad’s Aliyah Bet operations. Although Eshkol was initially opposed to paying migrants to leave, Sereni pushed back and argued for additional funding to enable the mass migration of Gaza residents. Despite the eventual suspension of the program by Eshkol, the initiative continued to quietly relocate thousands.
Historical accounts, including research by Dr. Yoav Gelber, reveal that this concept of voluntary emigration was not only a product of the post-1967 period but also a recurring theme throughout Israel’s history. The debate over population transfer began even before the state of Israel was founded, with key figures like David Ben-Gurion and Chaim Weizmann discussing the possibility of encouraging Palestinians to emigrate to other countries. Despite these efforts, such initiatives were largely blocked by Arab states and international pressures.
Contemporary Efforts: Trump’s Influence and Israel’s Plan
Fast forward to recent years, and the issue of Gaza emigration has resurfaced, this time with the backing of U.S. President Donald Trump. In 2023, discussions on voluntary emigration were revived, with Israeli officials exploring the possibility of relocating Gaza residents to countries such as Rwanda, Congo, and Canada. Although the Biden administration quickly expressed its opposition, the idea has found renewed traction, particularly within Israel’s right-wing and intelligence circles.
The current emigration proposal, championed by Knesset members Ram Ben Barak and Danny Danon, drew attention after a joint article in The Wall Street Journal. Behind the scenes, however, serious efforts were underway in the Israeli Foreign Ministry and Intelligence Ministry. These efforts were further developed in late 2023, with proposals to establish tent cities in Sinai and create a humanitarian corridor to help Gaza residents relocate.
In early 2024, more than 1,000 Gaza residents were allowed to emigrate to Canada in an organized manner, despite opposition from other Arab nations and international entities. Israeli officials privately noted that if Canada had accepted a higher quota, the numbers would have been filled quickly.
However, the U.S. administration under Joe Biden was unequivocally against such efforts. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Biden both made it clear that the U.S. would not support any initiative to resettle Palestinians outside Gaza, highlighting the ongoing international resistance to this approach.
A New Phase: Trump and Israel’s Relocation Strategy
The latest chapter in this saga involves President Trump’s support for Gaza emigration, which some see as a potential breakthrough for the plan. Dr. Gelber compares this situation to the infamous Philby-Weizmann discussions in the 1940s, when the idea of relocating Palestinians was suggested but ultimately rejected. Trump’s involvement, however, raises new questions: Could the backing of the U.S. president make these plans a reality? Or will history repeat itself, with little actual progress?
Dr. Gelber remains skeptical, citing the deep-rooted Palestinian resistance to the idea of emigration. “The consciousness of the Nakba [the 1948 displacement] remains a core part of Palestinian identity,” Gelber says. “Leaving Gaza would be seen as another Nakba, and that makes it nearly impossible to implement any plan for relocation on a large scale.”
Nevertheless, there is growing support for the concept within Israel, with officials cautiously optimistic that the failure of previous efforts will not prevent future success. However, Gelber warns that while emigration may be a more humane solution than violence, the practical implementation of such plans is fraught with challenges, especially when so many Arab and Palestinian voices oppose it.
Conclusion: The Long History of Population Transfer Proposals
The idea of transferring Gaza residents, whether voluntarily or forcibly, has deep historical roots that span decades. From early Zionist discussions to post-independence proposals, the notion has consistently resurfaced, often met with resistance both domestically and internationally. As Israel continues to explore the feasibility of such plans, one thing remains clear: the complex legacy of population transfer and its moral and practical challenges continues to shape Israeli and Palestinian relations today.
