Jerusalem (The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper) - Israel is seeking to ensure that more Palestinians are allowed to leave the Gaza Strip than are permitted to return, according to recent reporting that highlights the scale of displacement and the constraints facing civilians amid the ongoing war. The policy emerges against the backdrop of extensive destruction, mass internal displacement and limited prospects for large‑scale reconstruction or safe return in the near term.
International organisations continue to warn of
severe humanitarian consequences for Gaza’s population, most of whom have been
displaced at least once since the conflict escalated in October 2023.
Governments and aid agencies are closely monitoring the situation as
discussions continue over Gaza’s future governance, security and civilian movement.
Israel’s approach to population movements from Gaza has
focused on tightly controlled crossings, security vetting and coordination with
foreign governments willing to receive injured, dual nationals or specific
categories of civilians. Reports indicate that while some Palestinians have
been permitted to exit Gaza for medical treatment or relocation abroad, returns
have remained heavily restricted.
At the same time, international bodies, including the United
Nations and humanitarian agencies, have reiterated that displaced Palestinians
have the right to return to their homes when conditions allow and have raised
concerns about any policy that could entrench long‑term displacement.
Israeli objectives on Gaza crossings and movement
Israeli authorities have maintained comprehensive control
over movement into and out of Gaza’s main crossings under their direct or
indirect oversight since the start of the current phase of the conflict. Public
statements by Israeli officials have consistently framed restrictions on
movement as necessary security measures, aimed at preventing militants from
regrouping, limiting arms smuggling and reducing threats to Israeli forces and
civilians.
In this context, decisions on who may leave or attempt to
return to Gaza have been closely tied to Israeli security assessments and
coordination with foreign governments.
Reports from credible international media and humanitarian
sources describe a pattern in which departures for medical cases, foreign
passport holders and certain relatives have been facilitated in limited
numbers, while large‑scale civilian return movements have not been permitted.
These arrangements have generally been coordinated through specific lists and
approvals, often involving negotiations between Israel, neighbouring states and
international organisations.
The numbers involved in these approved departures remain
small relative to Gaza’s overall population and the scale of internal
displacement inside the territory.
Humanitarian situation and displacement inside Gaza
Credit: Getty Images
The conflict has resulted in extensive displacement, with the majority of Gaza’s approximately 2.2 million residents forced from their homes at least once since the escalation in October 2023. Large areas of northern Gaza and parts of central and southern districts have sustained significant damage to housing, infrastructure and basic services.
UN agencies and humanitarian organisations have repeatedly
reported that many displaced people now live in overcrowded shelters, informal
camps or temporary accommodation with limited access to clean water,
sanitation, food and medical care.
International assessments indicate that, even in areas where
active fighting has diminished at times, damage to essential infrastructure and
continued security risks have made it difficult for civilians to return safely
to their original neighbourhoods. Aid agencies have stressed that
reconstruction, clearance of unexploded ordnance and restoration of basic
services are prerequisites for any sustainable and voluntary return.
In this environment, the balance between those leaving Gaza
through tightly controlled channels and those able to return has become a
central issue in broader debates about the territory’s future.
International law, right of return and global reactions
Credit: lawvs.com
Legal experts and international organisations have underlined that displaced civilians retain the right to return to their homes once hostilities end and conditions allow, in line with established principles of international humanitarian and human rights law.
The United Nations and a range of governments have warned
against any measures that could amount to forced transfer or create permanent
obstacles to return, including policies that facilitate outward movement
without corresponding guarantees for eventual return. These concerns have been
reflected in statements at the UN Security Council and other international
forums addressing the war in Gaza and its humanitarian impact.
Several governments have expressed unease at reports
suggesting an emphasis on enabling exits from Gaza while severely limiting
returns. Diplomatic statements have called for respect of Palestinians’ rights,
including their ability to return to their homes, and for any evacuation or
relocation to be strictly temporary, voluntary and carried out with full
safeguards.
Humanitarian agencies have also emphasised the need for
transparent, non‑discriminatory policies on movement, consistent with
international law and aimed at reducing, rather than deepening, long‑term
displacement.
Role of neighbouring countries and evacuation arrangements
Neighbouring countries, particularly Egypt, have played a
central role in arrangements for the exit of specific categories of
Palestinians from Gaza. The Rafah crossing on Gaza’s southern border has served
as a key point for evacuations, including injured civilians, foreign passport holders
and some family members.
These movements have depended on detailed coordination
between Egyptian authorities, Israel, foreign embassies and, in some cases,
international organisations. Lists of approved evacuees have been compiled and
processed over time, with departures taking place in limited, controlled
groups.
While these evacuations have provided critical relief for
some of the most vulnerable individuals, including those requiring urgent
medical treatment unavailable inside Gaza, they have not altered the broader
reality of mass internal displacement. Neighbouring states have also signalled
that they do not support any large‑scale or permanent resettlement of Gaza’s
population on their territory. Statements from regional governments have
stressed that any temporary hosting of Palestinians must not be interpreted as
acquiescence to long‑term demographic changes in Gaza or the wider Palestinian
territories.
Debate over Gaza’s future governance and security
The question of who will govern Gaza and how security will
be
managed after the current conflict remains unresolved and is closely linked
to policies on civilian movement and return.
International discussions have included proposals involving
a strengthened role for the Palestinian Authority, possible interim security
arrangements and a larger presence of international actors in reconstruction
and oversight. However, there is no agreed framework in place, and significant
differences persist between the parties directly involved and among regional
and international stakeholders.
In the absence of a clear political settlement, decisions on
population movement, including who may leave or return to Gaza, have continued
to be shaped primarily by security calculations. This has heightened concerns
among international observers that temporary emergency measures could become de
facto long‑term arrangements if not anchored in a broader political agreement.
Diplomats and UN officials have reiterated that any durable
solution for Gaza must address civilian rights, including freedom of movement
and return, alongside security guarantees for all sides.
Conditions for potential return and reconstruction challenges
Even in a scenario where large‑scale returns are authorised,
the physical and institutional conditions required for safe, voluntary and
dignified return would present major challenges. Extensive damage to housing,
roads, electricity networks, water systems, hospitals and schools would necessitate
a long‑term reconstruction effort costing many billions of dollars.
International financial institutions and donor governments
have noted that previous pledges for Gaza’s reconstruction in earlier conflicts
were only partially fulfilled, underscoring the need for sustained political
and financial commitments.
Technical experts have highlighted that clearance of
unexploded ordnance, stabilisation of damaged structures and rehabilitation of
basic services would be prerequisites for widespread return to many
neighbourhoods. Humanitarian agencies have also stressed the importance of
transparent mechanisms to verify property claims, support families whose homes
have been destroyed and prevent secondary displacement.
Without these elements, displaced families might face
prolonged stays in temporary shelters or informal settlements, even if formal
restrictions on return were eventually eased.
Humanitarian access, aid corridors and monitoring
Humanitarian access into Gaza continues to depend on
approval for aid convoys and the functioning of designated crossings.
International relief organisations have called for predictable, large‑scale
access for food, water, medical supplies, fuel and shelter materials, noting
that current levels of assistance have been insufficient to meet the needs of
the displaced population. Monitoring mechanisms at crossings and within Gaza
have been established to varying degrees, often involving UN agencies, to track
the delivery of aid and the situation of civilians.
In this context, the management of population movements –
including departures for medical treatment or relocation and any future returns
– is closely tied to broader questions about humanitarian access and oversight.
Aid organisations have recommended that any policy affecting the balance
between exits and returns should be subject to transparent monitoring, with
clear data on numbers, categories of people moving and the conditions they
face.
Such information is considered essential for assessing
compliance with international obligations and for shaping an effective
humanitarian response.
Ongoing diplomatic efforts and next steps
Diplomatic efforts involving regional and international
actors continue to focus on securing ceasefires, increasing humanitarian access
and laying the groundwork for a political framework that can address the long‑term
status of Gaza. Discussions at multilateral forums have repeatedly underlined
that any sustainable arrangement must ensure both security for Israel and
protection of Palestinian civilian rights, including the right of displaced
people to return when conditions allow.
The balance between facilitating necessary temporary
evacuations and safeguarding the possibility of future return remains a central
concern in these talks.
As negotiations proceed, the reported Israeli objective of
allowing more Palestinians to leave Gaza than to return is being closely
scrutinised by governments, legal experts and humanitarian bodies. The outcome
of these discussions, and any formal agreements that emerge, will determine how
movement into and out of Gaza is regulated in the coming months and years.
The decisions taken will have far‑reaching implications for the territory’s demographic composition, the prospects for reconstruction and the lives of hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians.