Dr. Bilal Al-Shoubaki: Israel relies on creating unbearable living conditions to make population displacement or migration an inevitable option.
Akram Atallah: Israel has succeeded in pushing Palestinians to a stage where they see displacement as a possible option due to the impossibility of life in Gaza.
Nabhan Khreisha: The absence of any Israeli or international plans to return residents to their original areas makes this displacement permanent, not temporary.
Dr. Amjad Bashkar: The occupation's policies are reviving Trump's "Deal of the Century," which focused on displacement, starting with Gaza and then the West Bank.
Sari Samour: Israel has only one goal: to exterminate the Palestinians, after facing difficulties in implementing the displacement.
Samer Anabtawi: Israel promotes the concept of voluntary displacement, but in reality, it forces residents to emigrate through starvation and the destruction of the necessities of life.


With talk of an Israeli escalation in the Gaza Strip, concern is growing about a systematic Israeli policy aimed at emptying the territory of its residents, using a complex array of tools ranging from starvation and infrastructure destruction to internal population displacement.
These policies, described by writers, analysts, and university professors in separate interviews with Al-Quds as cumulative, aim to create an unbearable living environment that pushes Palestinians toward forced migration, both within and outside the Strip.
They point out that pressure mechanisms target the necessities of life, including food, water, and healthcare facilities, in addition to intensifying military strikes in civilian areas.
They assert that these actions represent a practical implementation of broader plans aimed at bringing about demographic changes in the Gaza Strip, by forcibly pushing residents into narrow geographical areas, in preparation for the opening of potential "exit" corridors.

A cumulative Israeli plan to displace Palestinians

Dr. Bilal al-Shobaki, a professor of political science at Hebron University, says that famine, along with the destruction of infrastructure and the health sector in the Gaza Strip, constitute key tools in an Israeli plan to displace Palestinians.
Al-Shoubaki explains that these policies aim to undermine the foundations of life in the Gaza Strip, whether by preventing the provision of basic needs such as food and water or destroying infrastructure, thereby forcing residents to move within the Strip or emigrate outside Palestine.
"There is no doubt that undermining the foundations of life in Gaza, whether through famine caused by a lack of food and water, or the destruction of infrastructure and the health sector, constitutes a comprehensive tool for displacement," Al-Shoubaki says.
Al-Shoubaki adds, "Israeli plans are cumulative. They don't necessarily begin with the direct displacement of hundreds of thousands. Rather, they may begin with internal population displacement to intensify the Palestinian presence in specific areas, under the pretext of establishing humanitarian hubs or aid distribution points."
Al-Shoubaki points out that Israel is seeking to reshape the Gaza Strip so that limited humanitarian aid is concentrated in specific pockets, forcing residents of famine-stricken areas to move there in search of minimal supplies.
"In light of the famine being deliberately created in some areas, Israel is using this tool to encourage population movement toward areas with limited aid," says Al-Shoubaki. "So far, there are no strong indications that the Palestinians are responding to this proposal, but basic humanitarian needs may make this policy effective over time."

Internal displacement and displacement at first

Al-Shoubaki asserts that Israel relies on creating unbearable living conditions to make population displacement or migration an inevitable option.
Regarding the possibility of displacement outside Palestine, Al-Shoubaki explains that this type of literal displacement—transferring large numbers of Palestinians across borders—remains impossible for Israel to achieve at this time.
"If Israel had been able to implement external displacement, it would have done so," says Al-Shoubaki. "It succeeded in displacing Palestinians from the north of the Gaza Strip to the south at the beginning of the war. However, displacement outside Palestine is more complicated because it requires a third party willing to accept the Palestinians, something that neighboring Arab countries reject." He points out that Israel may seek internal displacement and displacement initially.
Al-Shoubaki points to statements made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during his visit to the United States, where he hinted that Israel was searching for a third party willing to accept the Palestinians, but such a party is currently unavailable.
Al-Shoubaki asserts that another form of displacement may be possible: the migration of Palestinian individuals or families individually in search of employment or study opportunities abroad, as a result of mounting Israeli pressure.


Creating a permanent reality of poverty and suffering


Al-Shoubaki says, "With the undermining of life in Gaza, it's only natural for some to seek opportunities abroad, especially those with the ability to work or study. This migration may increase at this stage, but it's not the forced mass displacement that Israel seeks."
Al-Shoubaki asserts that Israel may accept what it calls "voluntary migration," which is in fact not voluntary but rather the result of compelling circumstances.
Al-Shoubaki warns against Israel's continued restrictive policies, including the blockade, aid restrictions, and obstruction of the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, in addition to the concentration of the population in specific areas.
Al-Shoubaki points out that these policies aim to create a permanent reality of poverty and suffering, making emigration a possible option for some, even if Israel's vision of mass displacement does not materialize.
Al-Shoubaki asserts that these cumulative schemes pose an existential threat to the Palestinian people, calling for them to be confronted through international and Arab action to halt the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.


Destroying all means of living in the Gaza Strip

For his part, writer and political analyst Akram Atallah says that Israel is practicing the harshest forms of punishment against the people of the Gaza Strip, through policies of starvation, bombing, and direct occupation of territory, all with the aim of forcing the population to emigrate.
Atallah explains that these Israeli practices in the Gaza Strip constitute part of a systematic strategy aimed at preparing the infrastructure for forced displacement, by "destructing life" and destroying all means of subsistence in the Strip.
"Israel is deliberately destroying every aspect of life in Gaza, including health, education, the environment, sanitation, and food, in addition to starvation, terror, killing, and continuous bleeding," Atallah said, noting that starvation is one of the harshest aspects of this policy, but it is not the only one.
According to Atallah, displacement requires two basic conditions: the Palestinian people's acceptance of the displacement, and the acceptance of the countries that will host them.

Displacement is "closer than ever"

Atallah points out that Israel has succeeded in pushing Palestinians to a stage where they see displacement as a possible option, given the impossibility of life in Gaza. Meanwhile, the question of acceptance by other countries remains the most significant obstacle to this plan.
"The more Israel continues to destroy life in the Gaza Strip, the greater the likelihood of emigration," Atallah says. "Life outside Gaza has become possible for Palestinians, while it has become impossible inside the Strip."
Atallah emphasizes that the success of the displacement policy depends largely on the countries that might receive the Palestinians, which is the most important factor in facilitating this process.
Atallah believes that displacement is "closer than ever," warning that Israel's continuation of its current policies makes this scenario more likely.

The ground operation hides a more dangerous target.

Journalist Nabhan Khreisha says that Israel's plan to launch a large-scale ground operation in the Gaza Strip aims to permanently occupy the territory, eliminate Hamas's military capabilities, and end its rule, while simultaneously pressuring it to release Israeli prisoners or force the movement to make concessions in negotiations.
Khreisha asserts that this operation conceals a more serious objective: the forced displacement of Palestinians. He points out that this plan has entered the practical implementation phase, despite not being officially announced.
"Based on the facts on the ground, the threat of Palestinian displacement from Gaza is closer than ever," Khreisha said. "The imminent Israeli attack, according to statements from military and political officials, aims to forcibly displace more than 1.5 million Palestinians toward the southern part of the Strip, particularly the Rafah area, so that the occupation forces can clear the north and center of fighters."
Khreisha explains that the absence of any Israeli or international plans to return residents to their original areas makes this displacement permanent, not temporary, and constitutes a systematic expulsion similar to the expulsions carried out by Zionist gangs in 1948.

Unannounced intention to "open an exit corridor"

Khreisha points out that Israeli preparations include an undeclared intention to "open an exit corridor" after crowding the population into a small geographical area such as Rafah, where continued bombardment and food shortages make fleeing across the border into Sinai the only option, despite public Egyptian opposition.
"What Israel is practicing is not ordinary displacement, but rather systematic expulsion using modern tools such as starvation, by preventing or restricting the entry of food, water, fuel, and medical supplies, and attacks on aid trucks and convoys, in addition to targeting food production and storage facilities such as bakeries, poultry farms, and water stations," Khreisha said.
Khreisha asserts that the goal is to "manufacture" a famine that would create a catastrophic humanitarian situation, making life unbearable and forcing people to emigrate as the only option.
Khreisha considers talk of international law "mockery" given the lack of international will to apply it to Israel, which does not comply with international law in the first place.

Forcible transfer of residents to Rafah is a war crime

Khreisha explains that the forced transfer of residents to Rafah constitutes a war crime under the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute, and may amount to a crime against humanity if carried out systematically and on a large scale.
Khreisha asserts that Israel remains an occupying force in Gaza, despite its withdrawal in 2005, because it controls the airspace, crossings, territorial waters, and population registry, and frequently exercises excessive military force.
Khreisha points out that international law permits the evacuation of civilians only in cases of temporary military necessity, with the condition that they be returned immediately after the danger has passed and that adequate humanitarian conditions be provided in the evacuation areas.
Khreisha warns that the facts indicate a lack of guarantees for the return of residents, a lack of adequate infrastructure or shelter in Rafah, and statements by Israeli ministers calling for "cleansing Gaza of its residents," revealing illicit political and demographic intentions.
Khreisha asserts that this operation is not intended to ensure the safety of the population, but rather to achieve political goals aimed at changing the demographic composition of the Gaza Strip. He warns that the continuation of these policies will exacerbate the humanitarian catastrophe and recreate a new Nakba.

Starvation as a primary weapon to empty the Gaza Strip

Political science professor Dr. Amjad Bashkar believes that Israel is using starvation as its primary weapon to empty the Gaza Strip of its population. He asserts that this policy constitutes a war crime under the 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1977 Additional Protocol, which classify starvation as one of the most serious war crimes.
Bashkar believes that what is happening in Gaza is not a reaction to the events of October 7, 2023, but rather part of a systematic plan for forced displacement.
"The 1949 Geneva Convention and the 1977 Additional Protocol were clear in considering starvation a major war crime, and what is happening in Gaza is a despicable exploitation justified by the events of October 2023," Bashkar says. "But the Israeli Heritage Minister was even more explicit when he emphasized a few days ago the necessity of maintaining the weapon of starvation until only about 100,000 Palestinians remain in Gaza."
Bashkar believes this approach aims to empty the Gaza Strip of its population by destroying the basic necessities of life, including the continuous bombing of schools, tents, hospitals, and bakeries, making life impossible.
Bashkar emphasizes that Israel uses starvation as a primary tool for forced displacement, which is in itself a war crime.
Bashkar points to the recent Israeli proposal, advanced by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which links the entry of food and drink into Gaza to the relocation of its residents to locations designated by Israel, describing it as "bargaining for the survival of the Palestinians."

Death by bombs or starvation

Bashkar asserts that this policy aims to leave Palestinians with no other option than emigration, given the lack of any alternative for survival.
Bashkar explains that this plan has the support of the United States, pointing to statements by US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly spoken about displacing Palestinians from Gaza.
Bashkar believes these policies are reviving Trump's "Deal of the Century," which focused on displacement, starting with Gaza and then the West Bank.
"Today, there is a slogan that says: 'Those Palestinians who don't die from bombs will die from starvation, and those who don't die from starvation will have to emigrate to survive,'" Bashkar says.
Bashkar warns against the international community's complicity in these crimes, emphasizing that the absence of real international pressure allows Israel to continue its policies.
Bashkar calls for urgent intervention to halt the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where residents are suffering from a stifling blockade, severe food and medicine shortages, and the systematic destruction of infrastructure.
Bashkar asserts that the continuation of these policies threatens to empty Gaza of its population, which constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and a threat to the very existence of the Palestinian people.

"Extermination" of Palestinians, not their displacement

For his part, writer and political analyst Sari Samour argues that Israel is using starvation as a tool to exterminate the Palestinian people, arguing that the lack of American pressure and the inaction of Arab states are exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
Samour explains that Israel uses hunger as a weapon, alongside bombing and killing, to achieve its primary goal, which is to "exterminate" the Palestinians, not displace them.
"Had it not been for American pressure, Israel would not have been able to impose famine on Gaza," Samour says. "In addition, there is clear Arab inaction. Some Arab countries used to drop food aid by air, but this intervention has ceased. The Arab countries could have exploited their relations with Israel to secure aid without the need for war, but that didn't happen."
Sammour wonders about the reasons for the stagnation of these Arab efforts, pointing to the decline of Arab initiatives despite the possibility of influence through diplomatic channels.
Samour says, "Israel does not seek to displace Palestinians, but rather to kill and exterminate them. If it wanted to displace them, it would have done so. However, it is resorting to killing with missiles, tanks, aerial bombardment, and now starvation, targeting generations, especially children."
Samour believes that Israel is facing difficulties in implementing the displacement, which has led it to escalate its policy of systematic killing as an alternative.

Politicizing humanitarian aid and controlling its distribution

For his part, writer and political analyst Samer Anabtawi warns of an Israeli plan to politicize humanitarian aid and control its distribution in the Gaza Strip, with the aim of starving the population and forcing them to flee.
Anbatawi asserts that Israel seeks a permanent occupation of the Gaza Strip, with the population displaced from north to south, as a prelude to emptying Gaza of its inhabitants under what Israel calls "voluntary displacement," a process that relies on making life difficult.
Anbatawi says, "The occupation is politicizing food aid, preventing it from reaching Gaza and depriving children of it. It's also seeking to control the distribution of all aid through the Israeli military. This means controlling who gets food and who doesn't, with the goal of controlling the Strip."
Anbatawi points to an escalation in the Israeli plan, which includes the call-up of tens of thousands of reserve soldiers to carry out a comprehensive occupation of the entire Gaza Strip, unlike previous operations that were limited to a simple incursion and withdrawal.
Anbatawi explains that this occupation aims to displace Gaza's population within a specific area and confine them there, facilitating starvation and displacement.
"Israel promotes the concept of voluntary displacement, but in reality, it is forcing people to emigrate through starvation and the destruction of the basic necessities of life," Anbatawi says. "They raise the slogan of eliminating the resistance, but their real goal is to displace the people of Gaza."
Anbatawi links this plan to US President Donald Trump's statements regarding displacement, noting that Israel relies on these statements to justify its continued policies.

A broader strategy to displace Palestinians

Anbatawi asserts that this approach precludes any negotiations for a truce or calm, while continuing the "war of extermination and displacement" in Gaza.
Anbatawi explains that this plan coincides with Israeli statements about its intention to annex the West Bank after "completing" Gaza, revealing a broader strategy to displace Palestinians.
Anbatawi says, "Displacement is not new. It's an old plan that's currently being implemented. Anyone who's surprised by it hasn't fully understood this phase, as Israel will exert all its energy to achieve displacement."
However, Anbatawi believes that a permanent occupation of Gaza will escalate Palestinian resistance, arguing that the reserve army will not succeed where the regular army failed. He expects the occupation to become embroiled in long-term confrontations, likening this to the United States' involvement in Vietnam.
Anabtawi points to Israeli leaders' warnings to Netanyahu about the consequences of this escalation, but he asserts that the latter is determined to move forward with this project.
"Things are heading toward escalation in the coming period, as Israel continues its policies aimed at emptying Gaza of its population, amid international silence that exacerbates the humanitarian catastrophe," Anbatawi said.