Dozens of Gazans, aided by Israel, reportedly left for Romania and Italy as Israel renews strikes on Hamas.
By Ben Rappaport, United with Israel and JNS
In what may be a first step toward the realization of US President Donald Trump’s proposal to relocate the population of Gaza, some 70 Gazans, aided by Israel, departed on Wednesday for Europe via Ramon Airport in Eilat, according to reports in Israeli media.
The Gazans were reportedly headed to Romania and Italy, according to Srugim. Israel Hayom noted that a Romanian Air Force plane on Wednesday afternoon landed at Ramon to facilitate the departure.
Israeli officials assess that the Gazans will prefer to settle abroad once they experience the improvement in conditions, Srugim said, citing Israel’s Channel 12. They or their families reportedly hold foreign citizenship that would facilitate absorption.
The move comes as Israel renewed heavy strikes against Hamas in Gaza on Tuesday. “This follows Hamas’ repeated refusal to release our hostages, as well as its rejection of all of the proposals it has received from U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and from the mediators,” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated.
Polls have indicated widespread support among the Israeli public for relocating Gazans, with Trump’s proposal giving tailwind to the idea in Israeli political discourse.
Speaking to the Knesset’s Land of Israel Caucus last week, Religious Zionism Party leader Bezalel Smotrich said that the government, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, is working to establish a “migration administration” to oversee the process of Gazan emigration.
Smotrich outlined a proposed timeline, suggesting that relocating 10,000 people daily could see the process completed within six months. He said that financial constraints would not hinder the effort, despite its logistical complexity.
“The budget will not stand as an obstacle,” he said, according to Ma’ariv. “There is an abysmal and deep hatred of Israel, and [US] administration officials told me – it is not possible that 2 million people with hatred of Israel will remain within spitting distance of your fence.”