Dem. Senator slams Israeli push for Gaza expulsion as 'sickening'
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David Barnea has sought US assistance in persuading other nations to accept hundreds of Palestinians expelled from Gaza.
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Relatives of Palestinians killed at an aid distribution center run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation mourn over their bodies during their funeral at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on July 19, 2025 (AP)
US Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen called "Israel’s" request for US assistance in forcibly displacing Palestinians “truly outrageous and sickening” in a post on X Friday.
He wrote: "The U.S. should not be complicit in or use ANY governmental, American taxpayer resources to aid and abet what amounts to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian civilians from Gaza."
A truly outrageous and sickening request from the Netanyahu government.
— Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) July 18, 2025
The U.S. should not be complicit in or use ANY governmental, American taxpayer resources to aid and abet what amounts to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinian civilians from Gaza.
We cannot stand for this.… pic.twitter.com/wBlSNHXG4W
Van Hollen’s remarks follow reports from Axios that 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.
During the meeting with White House envoy Steve Witkoff, 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.
