'Israel' asks US to aid Gaza Palestinian 'relocation' deals: Axios
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"Israel" insists on the plan of the forced displacement of Palestinians, asking US officials to pressure countries like Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Libya to accept expelled Palestinians.
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Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air operations stand in the northern part of the Gaza Strip, Thursday, July 10, 2025 (AP)
The director of "Israel's" Mossad spy agency traveled to Washington this week, where he sought US assistance in persuading other countries to accept hundreds of thousands of Palestinians expelled from Gaza, according to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke to Axios.
During the meeting with White House envoy Steve Witkoff, the spy chief, David Barnea, mentioned that "Israel" has been holding discussions specifically with Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Libya.
The Israeli government's objective of forcing a significant portion of Gaza's population out has sparked major controversy, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's administration insists the proposed "relocation" would be carried out on a "voluntary" basis, while US and Israeli legal experts have condemned the plan as a potential war crime.
During their meeting earlier this week, Barnea informed Witkoff that Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Libya had indicated a willingness to accept substantial numbers of Palestinians from Gaza, according to the two sources. The Mossad chief proposed that the US provide incentives to these nations and assist "Israel" in securing their agreement.
According to one source, Witkoff did not commit to the proposal, leaving uncertainty about whether the US will actively engage on this matter.
'Israel' continues to push for Trump Gaza expulsion plan
During a rare press conference on May 22, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu introduced a new condition for ending the war on Gaza by calling for the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza expulsion plan, marking the first time he has publicly stated such a demand.
Netanyahu, who faces an ICC arrest warrant, described the proposal as "brilliant" and "revolutionary", stating that it could "change the face of the Middle East," a stance echoed by the far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a strong proponent of the plan.
In February, President Trump suggested "relocating" all two million Palestinians from Gaza to reconstruct the territory, though the White House distanced itself from the proposal after facing strong opposition from Arab countries, according to officials, and the plan has since stalled.
According to Israeli officials, the Trump administration communicated that if Netanyahu wished to advance this proposal, "Israel" would need to identify nations willing to accept Palestinians from Gaza, prompting Netanyahu to assign Mossad, "Israel's" foreign intelligence agency, with locating countries prepared to take in significant numbers of expelled Palestinians from Gaza.
