Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that the military was ready to receive an order aimed at “eliminating Hamas,” linking the completion of that mission to the possibility of implementing what he called a “migration plan” in the Gaza Strip. In a statement posted to his social media accounts, Katz said the Israeli forces’ movements in the strip were taking place under the ceasefire agreement and as part of what he described as a commitment by the United States and partner countries to disarm Hamas.
Katz links targeting Hamas to migration plan
“We all understand that this will not happen, and the Israeli military is ready, once it receives the order to eliminate Hamas, to complete the mission so that we can also implement the migration plan”
Katz’s statement came in response to criticism from Ofer Winter, a Knesset candidate and former colonel, after Israeli forces announced Tuesday the killing of Nail Abu Obeid, commander of the Rafah Brigade in the al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas’s military wing. Winter questioned how a brigade commander affiliated with the movement could still be in Rafah after three years of war and the participation of five military divisions in fighting inside Gaza.
Previous statements on removing Gaza residents
Katz said in September that Israel was prepared to remove Palestinians from Gaza by land and sea, and that it was awaiting US assistance in identifying possible countries to receive them. He described the plan as voluntary, claiming that most Palestinians wanted to leave. In contrast, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee denied that there was any plan to transfer people from Gaza against their will.
Hamas had expressed readiness in late July to proceed with a plan to disarm, a step welcomed by US President Donald Trump, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would be no Israeli withdrawal before the movement was completely stripped of its weapons.
