Israel defence chief threatens to evacuate 1 million Palestinians; Netanyahu cuts NY visit amid protest fears

Israel defence chief threatens to evacuate 1million Palestinians

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has issued a  warning and threatening to forcibly displace approximately one million residents from Gaza City to the south if an Israeli soldier or civilian is kidnapped. Speaking at an annual memorial ceremony for soldiers killed in the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, Katz framed the threat as a preemptive deterrent based on what he described as “various intentions and intelligence.”

“In light of various intentions and intelligence, I warn the terror organization and its supporters, from Iran to Erdogan: if even one Israeli soldier or civilian is kidnapped, the entire Gaza City’s… one million residents will be evacuated southward,” Katz declared.

The statement from a senior Israeli official signals a readiness to impose collective punishment on a civilian population—a step that international law experts and human rights organizations have long condemned as a potential war crime. Katz did not specify the mechanism or timeline for such an evacuation, nor did he explain how the forcible movement of a million people, many of whom are already displaced and living in dire conditions, would be carried out.

 Israeli forces continue to conduct sustained military operations across the Gaza Strip, nearly 18 months after the October 7, 2023. The offensive has devastated vast areas of Gaza, including much of Gaza City, and has led to what the United Nations and multiple aid agencies describe as a catastrophic humanitarian crisis and genocide.

Katz, a senior member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, has made a series of increasingly hardline—and what critics characterize as genocidal—statements in recent weeks. His latest remarks drew immediate condemnation from Palestinian officials and international observers, who argue that threatening to evacuate an entire city's population over the actions of a few militants amounts to unlawful collective punishment under the Fourth Geneva Convention.

The conflict’s human toll continues to mount. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, nearly 80,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. However, some independent estimates, including analyses by medical journal The Lancet and various humanitarian groups, suggest that the true number—including deaths from indirect causes such as famine, lack of medical care, and destroyed infrastructure—may exceed 200,000.

Netanyahu cuts NY visit amid protest fears

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to travel to the United States this week for a brief visit, during which he will address the United Nations General Assembly. However, his itinerary has been significantly scaled back amid heightened security concerns and fears of large-scale protests, according to a report from the Israeli news outlet Ynet.

Citing worries about potential pushback from New York City officials and residents  Netanyahu’s plane will avoid John F. Kennedy International Airport. Instead, he is expected to land at a military airfield in New Jersey or at Newark Liberty International Airport, which offers tighter security and fewer opportunities for demonstrators to gather.

During this his visit  discussions are reportedly being considered with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as with other foreign leaders who will be in New York for the General Assembly.

Ynet further reports that Netanyahu’s address to the UN will focus heavily on Iran, and according to officials close to the prime minister, the speech is expected to contain “surprises”—though no specifics were provided. Israeli officials are also bracing for possible disruptions during the address, including a coordinated walkout by representatives from several countries, a tactic often used to signal disapproval of Israeli policies.

The trip comes at a politically sensitive time for Netanyahu, who has faced both domestic protests over his judicial overhaul plans and international criticism over the ongoing conflict in Gaza.