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Israel lawmakers at far-right rally call for mass expulsion of Palestinians, echoing Trump’s proposal

February 28, 2025 at 5:01 pm

Far-right Israelis rally as they gather on Jaffa Street and march towards Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence demanding the occupation of Gaza and a return to war to destroy Hamas in West Jerusalem on February 27, 2025 [Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu Agency]

Hundreds gathered at an ultranationalist rally last night, where several right-wing Israeli lawmakers called for the mass removal of Palestinians from Gaza, echoing US President Donald Trump’s proposal to “clean out” the territory and transform it into a luxury coastal development.

According to the Times of Israel, Environment Protection Minister Idit Silman of the ruling Likud party stated that the only viable solution was to “empty Gaza of Gazans” and insisted that Israel must also take control of Jenin and Nablus in the occupied West Bank.

Silman framed her stance as “encouraging emigration”, aligning with some speakers at the rally while others pushed for even harsher measures. Likud MK Nissim Vaturi called for the removal of “all Arabs from Gaza” and extended the demand to Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

“We need to wake up. We need to expel the Arabs from here. We need to expel everyone now. Send them to countries who want them so badly. We should not be afraid because God is with us,” concluded Vaturi.

Former National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, also addressed the crowd, supporting the “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians from Gaza and urging the government to halt all humanitarian aid flowing through Israel into the besieged territory.

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“The government is currently sending hundreds of tonnes of aid to Hamas. These are the trucks that enable Hamas to rule,” claimed Ben-Gvir, apparently calling for a policy of starvation to be imposed on the civilian population of the Strip.

He added that he had been the only cabinet member to oppose the aid transfers. “They said to me, ‘Biden, Biden, Biden.’ Now there is no Biden, so why are there trucks?”

Ben-Gvir also reiterated his long-standing position in favor of expelling Palestinians from Gaza. While he framed it as “encouraging voluntary emigration,” he did not specify what measures would be used to facilitate the process or what would happen if Palestinians refused to leave.

The rally was organised by the Nachala settlement movement, a group that has actively pushed for Jewish resettlement in Gaza since the early months of the war and has been among the most vocal advocates for the expulsion of Palestinians from the territory.

At the demonstration, titled “This time we must triumph — Occupy, expel, settle,” banners and flyers openly promoted the removal of Palestinians. One large sign read, “Only transfer will bring peace,” while leaflets had “Gaza is ours forever” printed on them.

Silman reiterated the demand for mass expulsion, stating, “Encouraging emigration is the solution. The only solution for Gaza is to empty Gaza of Gazans.” She also invoked former US President Donald Trump, saying, “God sent us Trump,” and claimed that his administration had signaled to Israel that “the time has come to inherit the land.”

Silman argued that Israel must extend its control beyond Gaza, claiming: “There is no other solution to terrorism. We must inherit in Gaza, in West Bank Palestinian cities, Jenin, Nablus. The answer to terrorism is sovereignty and inheriting the land.”

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