Israeli Official Claims Progress in Voluntary Migration Program for Gaza Residents

A former Israeli official and reserve general in the occupation army has claimed there is progress in the voluntary migration program targeting residents of the Gaza Strip, following more than 15 months of continuous warfare and devastation.

Lieutenant Colonel (Reserve) Amit Yagour, former deputy head of the Palestinian Arena in the Planning Division of the Israeli army and former naval intelligence officer, said, “There is progress in the voluntary migration program.”

In an interview with the Hebrew newspaper Maariv, Yagour added, “For the first time, cracks have emerged in the walls of Egyptian and Jordanian rejection. Despite their denials, each is now showing readiness to accept migrants from Gaza.”

He further claimed, “At the same time, there’s also momentum regarding the fate of Hamas, including disarmament and the evacuation of its senior officials.”

In recent days, Hebrew newspapers have reported that the Israeli government has finalized preparations for plans to displace Palestinians from the Gaza Strip but is currently seeking countries willing to receive them.

Israeli security sources stated that one country had initially expressed willingness to receive construction workers from Gaza. However, international backlash surrounding the issue led the country to temporarily halt its interest, according to the newspaper Israel Hayom.

The newspaper also mentioned that an operational mechanism has been established under the direction of Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, aimed at facilitating the daily departure of approximately 2,500 people from Gaza.

Sources noted that “migration to destination countries could be carried out by sea, through Israel’s Ashdod port, or by air via Ramon Airport in the Negev.”

Another available route is the Rafah crossing. According to information available to Israel, approximately 35,000 people have already exited the Gaza Strip through this crossing to Egypt since the beginning of the war. In many cases, these individuals subsequently traveled from Egypt to other global destinations.

The newspaper explained, “Israel aims to enable as many Gaza residents as possible to leave the Strip. Consequently, the policy also includes allowing family members of patients and the injured to accompany them to other countries. The majority of those who have left Gaza were received by Arab countries, but there are also cases of individuals migrating permanently to Romania and Italy.”