Netanyahu's New Plan for Gaza: What "Voluntary Migration" Really Means

In a 34-minute interview with the Israeli Telegram channel "Abu Ali Express," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the ongoing war in Gaza, stating his desire to end the conflict as quickly as possible. The interview came as the IDF prepares for a broad incursion into Gaza City.

When asked why the war has lasted so long, Netanyahu compared it to the battle for Mosul, Iraq. "There was a city called Mosul, which dozens of countries went to attack. There were not 30,000 terrorists there, there were 3,000. They did not have a tunnel system," he explained. "It took nine months to conquer them. So, of course, Gaza is much more complex. They built a very dense urban system with tens of thousands of terrorists and booby traps and weapons, and it takes time." Netanyahu also pointed to the challenges of a hostage crisis, saying, "without military pressure, this doesn't happen," and noted that the war is not limited to Gaza, as Israel is also confronting the Houthis, Syria, and Iran.

On the issue of a political solution and the future of Gaza, Netanyahu said that the war could end "tomorrow if Hamas lays down its arms, returns all the hostages... and you create security control against any attempt to rebuild terror organizations." He also addressed the possibility of a "voluntary migration" of Gazans, claiming that polls show at least half of the population wants to leave. "This is not a mass expulsion," he clarified, "but it can certainly be a result of people leaving. People want to leave, just open the gate." He emphasized that a future civilian government must be run by "people who do not fund terror."

Netanyahu also discussed the possibility of a future peace agreement with Saudi Arabia, stating that it "depends on the elimination of Hamas and the end of the war." He added that in such a situation, he believes there will be additional opportunities for peace with other countries. When asked about his favorite military operation since the war began, Netanyahu dismissed the question, stating, "you can't love war," and cited the return of hostages as the most moving moments for him. He credited military pressure for the return of 207 hostages so far.

Finally, Netanyahu commented on the broader war with Iran, stating, "we will not tolerate Iran arming itself with nuclear weapons." He took credit for recent strikes against Iranian military leaders and infrastructure, noting that the threat has been significantly pushed back. "Our response depends on them. I don't think they should bring this situation upon themselves," he said.