Israeli defence minister insists there are 'voluntary emigration' plans for Gaza

Israel's defence minister has advanced plans to remove Palestinians from the Gaza Strip through "voluntary emigration".

Israel Katz said on Wednesday that the plans would take place "at the proper time and in the proper manner".

Despite the Israeli genocide in Gaza, which has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians and wrought utter destruction on the coastal enclave, the vast majority of Palestinians there say they will never abandon their home.

Katz made the comments alongside an announcement that Israel had killed Mohammed Odeh, the head of Hamas's armed wing, along with his wife and three children.

Israel's security cabinet approved a proposal by Katz in March to establish a directorate within his ministry to facilitate "migration" from the enclave.

Proposals for the removal of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip have been repeatedly raised during the course of the Israeli genocide.

They have come alongside calls from Israeli settlers to construct new settlements in the Palestinian territory.

Though some ministers have framed the move to remove Palestinians as a voluntary option, other Israeli officials have been explicitly calling for forced expulsion, which is a war crime.

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