Israel’s bizarre new strategy: Protest boats to evacuate Gaza residents

In exchange, the flotillas would be used to evacuate Gaza residents who wish to leave the region.

During a situational assessment on Thursday, Katz instructed the IDF to permit the flotillas to arrive at Gaza’s shores and allow the protesters to disembark. Once they have arrived, the IDF would seize the ships, transport them to Ashdod Port, and repurpose them for evacuating residents from Gaza. Katz's plan aims to provide a means for Palestinians who are interested in leaving Gaza to do so, using the very ships brought in by the protesters.

According to Katz's office, the decision was made after receiving intelligence that protest groups were planning to breach Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza. The protest flotillas, consisting of foreign pro-Palestinian activists, have attempted to reach Gaza in the past, drawing global attention and protests over Israel's maritime control of the area.

Katz’s statement emphasized that anyone arriving on the flotillas to demonstrate would be sent into Gaza, where they would disembark and, once their protest has concluded, the boats would be used to help Gaza residents leave voluntarily. "Whoever comes to demonstrate on the shores of Gaza, we will send them into Gaza and use the ships to take residents out of Gaza," Katz stated.

This unusual tactic follows recent discussions about resettling Gaza’s population. Israel has drawn up plans to allow some Palestinians to leave Gaza in accordance with proposals from U.S. President Donald Trump to resettle the region's residents in Egypt, Jordan, and other countries.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an umbrella group consisting of international pro-Palestinian and Islamic organizations, had announced months ago its intention to once again breach the Gaza blockade in 2025. This coalition includes groups such as the Turkish Humanitarian Relief Foundation and the Mavi Marmara Association, which was involved in the 2010 Mavi Marmara incident, where nine Turkish activists were killed during an attempt to break the blockade.

Minister Katz's strategy is being seen as a method to simultaneously allow the flotillas to complete their mission while facilitating the voluntary evacuation of Gaza's residents. Whether the flotillas will continue with their plans or whether the IDF’s new directive will impact the protest efforts remains to be seen.

As the situation unfolds, Israel's military and defense leadership continue to work with intelligence and diplomatic channels to navigate the complexities surrounding Gaza and the region’s future. Katz’s directive represents a unique approach in a longstanding geopolitical issue, blending protest actions with humanitarian efforts to address the complex challenges faced by Gaza's residents.