Netanyahu pushes for the displacement of Gazans to appease Ben-Gvir and prevent the government from disintegrating.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leading concrete moves to impose what Israel calls a "voluntary migration" of Gaza Strip residents. This is aimed at appeasing extremist minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and ensuring his continued presence in the government coalition if a prisoner exchange deal is not concluded.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth, Netanyahu pledged to Ben-Gvir during a recent meeting that "if a deal is not reached, Israel will begin implementing a plan within a few weeks to displace thousands of Palestinians from Gaza abroad," in an effort to ensure the cohesion of the government coalition.

The newspaper noted that Netanyahu has begun holding regular weekly meetings to follow up on this issue, with the participation of representatives from Mossad, the Foreign Ministry, and other security agencies. He has also issued instructions to accelerate contacts with countries likely to agree to accept refugees from Gaza.

The newspaper quoted a senior government source as saying, "Netanyahu is taking this issue very seriously and is taking practical steps." Another source noted that "contacts have so far resulted in understandings with five countries that have expressed their initial willingness to accept migrants from Gaza."

According to the report, the novelty of this plan is that the population will be displaced through an Israeli crossing into Jordan, rather than through the Rafah crossing and the Egyptian side. The newspaper cited reports that among the countries Israel is in contact with are Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Libya.

The newspaper reported that US Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff was briefed on these efforts during his meetings with Mossad Director David Barnea, who is currently in the United States.

The report added that Barnea asked the US administration for diplomatic and financial support to encourage these countries to accept the plan, by offering incentives in exchange for receiving Palestinians from Gaza. The newspaper explained that the discussion is about deporting "thousands," not "millions," while stressing that the process is being actively pushed forward and is no longer merely a theoretical idea.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu pledged to Minister Bezalel Smotrich to ensure progress on the plan to annex parts of the Gaza Strip, starting with the "northern security border," if a swap deal fails.

Government sources indicated that Netanyahu still considers the prisoner issue his "top priority," but he also realizes that Hamas's intransigence could lead to the deal's failure, which is why he is working in parallel on the displacement and annexation plans.

To achieve greater coordination with the US administration on these tracks, Netanyahu dispatched Minister Ron Dermer, National Security Council Director Tzachi Hanegbi, and Mossad Director Barnea to Washington for high-level consultations.

The newspaper quoted an Israeli official familiar with the matter as saying, "The issue of voluntary migration was theoretical until now, but it is no longer so. Netanyahu wants to push this path forward if no deal is reached." He added, "There is an ongoing dialogue with the countries, and there is an understanding that if a deal is not reached, the deportation of a number of voluntary migrants will begin in the coming weeks. Not millions, but certainly several thousand Gazans."