Israel is actively seeking US assistance to convince third countries to accept large numbers of Palestinians from Gaza, according to a report by Axios citing two informed sources. Mossad Director David Barnea visited Washington this week specifically to push this agenda.
During a meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff, Barnea named Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Libya as nations potentially open to receiving Palestinians. He urged the US government to offer these countries incentives and actively support Israel’s relocation efforts. Crucially, Barnea sought help from the Trump administration to advance this highly sensitive initiative.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet insist any movement would be strictly voluntary, with no forced expulsions. However, this plan faces fierce international criticism and significant legal challenges, as several Israeli and American legal experts have explicitly labeled the proposed mass transfer a potential war crime.
Linking Back to Trump’s “Riviera” Vision
This request directly connects to President Donald Trump’s controversial February suggestion. Trump proposed the US temporarily take control of Gaza and relocate its two million residents during reconstruction. While Netanyahu supported the concept, it drew immediate pushback from Arab and Western allies.
Subsequently, the Trump administration reportedly told Israel it must find willing host countries itself if it pursued the plan. Netanyahu then tasked Mossad with this mission. Both leaders previously discussed transforming Gaza into a “Riviera of the Middle East” by transferring Palestinians out, sparking widespread condemnation and accusations of ethnic cleansing. However, it remains unclear if the US will now support Barnea’s request.
