Gaza evacuation plan advances with 16 flights, More to come Minister reveals

Interior Minister Moshe Arbel from the Shas party revealed that Israel has successfully launched 16 evacuation flights for Gazan civilians from Ramon Airport, with plans to ramp up the operation soon. Speaking at a Yedioth Aharonoth conference on Monday, Arbel noted, “More than 16 flights have already taken off from Ramon Airport, and this number will grow in the near future,” signaling a promising start to the evacuation efforts. The initiative is part of a broader push to relocate displaced Gazans, an idea that gained traction earlier this year when U.S. President Donald Trump proposed a plan in February. Under Trump’s vision, the U.S. would assume control of the Gaza Strip, offering residents the option to move elsewhere while the area undergoes reconstruction.

The wheels started turning in late March when Axios reported that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tasked the Mossad with finding countries willing to accept large groups of Gazans uprooted by the ongoing conflict. Netanyahu’s directive, issued weeks earlier, set off discreet talks with nations like Somalia, South Sudan, and Indonesia, aiming to offload significant numbers of Palestinian Arabs to far-off destinations. This covert mission reflects Israel’s scramble for solutions amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, though details on progress remain sparse. Last week, Defense Minister Israel Katz upped the ante by naming Yaakov Blitshtein, deputy director-general of the Ministry of Defense, to oversee what’s being called “voluntary immigration management” for Gaza residents. Blitshtein’s role is to coordinate with foreign governments and international bodies to facilitate the exodus of Palestinians who opt to leave.

Arbel’s update suggests the plan is moving from theory to action, with hundreds already airborne from Ramon Airport near Eilat. While the exact destinations of these flights weren’t disclosed, the operation hints at a controversial shift in Gaza’s future, blending humanitarian intent with geopolitical maneuvering. More flights are on the horizon, promising to escalate this unprecedented relocation effort.