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Yet, the wheels may already be turning. Joe Szlavik, head of a Washington lobbying firm, revealed that South Sudanese officials raised the matter with him directly. He added that an Israeli delegation is expected to make a visit to South Sudan, though no date has been set. Szlavik also noted that “the costs of the relocation would be borne by Israel.”
Netanyahu Signals Support
While Israel has not laid out a formal plan, Netanyahu has publicly signaled where he stands.
“I think that the right thing to do, even according to the laws of war as I know them, is to allow the population to leave, and then you go in with all your might against the enemy who remains there,” Netanyahu told reporters, as cited by the Associated Press.
He added: “Give them the opportunity to leave! First, from combat zones, and also from the Strip if they want. We will allow this, first of all inside Gaza during the fighting, and we will also allow them to leave Gaza. We are not pushing them out but allowing them to leave.”
Trump White House Chimes In
The Trump team appears to be on the same page.
“President Trump has long advocated for creative solutions to improve the lives of Palestinians, including allowing them to resettle in a new, beautiful location while Gaza rebuilds,” White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said, according to The Wall Street Journal.
But Kelly also made it clear that Hamas is standing in the way: “However, Hamas must first agree to disarm and end this war, and we have no additional details to provide at this time.”
Israeli Officials Push Migration Option
Some Israeli officials have been more blunt in their calls. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir declared, “Encourage migration! Encourage migration! Encourage migration!”
He continued, “Honestly, this is the most moral and correct solution. Not forcibly, but tell them: We are giving you the option to leave to different countries. The land of Israel is ours.”
The Legal and Human Rights Hurdle
Under international law, forced displacement is explicitly prohibited by the Geneva Convention. That leaves open the question of whether such a plan could ever move forward without sparking worldwide outrage.
Human rights groups are already raising red flags. Tania Hary, executive director of Gisha, an Israeli NGO, warned that so-called “voluntary” emigration schemes fail to address the real needs of Gaza’s civilians.
“The issue is that Israel needs to guarantee that people will be able to return if and when they would like to,” Hary said.
She added, “These voluntary emigration schemes or other plans to deport people don’t have anything to do with the safety or humanitarian needs of Palestinians.”
What Comes Next
For now, the relocation plan remains an idea — but one gaining traction at the highest levels of leadership in both Israel and Washington. Whether it moves forward depends not just on Israel’s willingness to bankroll it, but on whether South Sudan and other nations are willing to play host.
The bottom line: Netanyahu, Trump allies, and members of Israel’s security cabinet are all leaning toward resettlement as the long-term solution for Gaza. But international law, regional opposition, and humanitarian concerns may prove to be the biggest roadblocks.
