US State Department Publicly Rejects Israeli Plans to Remove Palestinians from Gaza

In a rare public break with Israel, the US State Department said on September 4, 2026 that Washington 'does not support any plan or proposal for the forced displacement, expulsion, or mandatory transfer' of Gaza's population, responding to Defense Minister Israel Katz's Sep 2 remarks that Israel is 'organised and prepared' to facilitate emigration and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's Sep 3 'Disengagement 710' plan. The State Department cited Point 12 of President Trump's 20-point peace plan: 'No one will be forced to leave Gaza and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return. We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.' Katz responded that there is 'no real solution for Gaza in the end' without migration. Arab states have rejected any removal effort, and the ceasefire that took effect in October 2025 has coincided with at least 1,320 more Palestinians killed and 4,300 wounded by continued Israeli strikes.