Despite the continuous announcements and promises of mass voluntary migration from Gaza, there is still minimal movement. He may not want to take responsibility, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu certainly owes us some answers on this issue. I explained why in my weekend column for Yedioth Ahronoth, an extract of which is below:
Wounded veterans who met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week heard an intriguing explanation for the prolonged nature of the current war: Blame placed squarely on the previous U.S. administration.
“Within weeks, we understood the White House wasn’t willing to let us win,” Netanyahu reportedly said. This led to the strategy of targeted raids, cautious humanitarian aid distribution, and a seemingly endless conflict.
Today, however, Joe Biden is busy writing his memoirs, and the current U.S. president isn’t imposing reprimands or restricting arms shipments. In fact, there’s one policy he openly supports: encouraging emigration from Gaza. According to the latest poll, about half of Gaza’s population wishes to leave.
Given that roughly one million Gazans are potential emigrants, why have only a few thousand managed to depart since Donald Trump’s announcement three months ago?
Contrary to Netanyahu’s claims, the obstacle isn’t finding countries willing to accept emigrants. Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office, Foreign Ministry, and Mossad have failed to finalize agreements with host countries, despite serious consideration from two African and two Asian nations.
Israel’s Defense Ministry’s migration unit, meanwhile, hasn’t facilitated the emigration of a single Gazan, exemplifying a long-standing Israeli tradition of ineffective bureaucracy.
The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) allows Gazans to exit through just one border crossing, once a week, limited to 200-400 people per departure—officially not intended for permanent migration. For example, just days ago, 350 Gazans flew out of Eilat’s Ramon Airport—an effort akin to emptying the ocean with a teaspoon. As for the Shin Bet—it imposes extensive restrictions, presuming anyone leaving Gaza poses a security risk based on the traumatic events of October 7.
Consequently, most potential emigrants, despite no affiliation with Hamas, are prevented from leaving. Efforts to actively identify prospective migrants are nonexistent. Even when departures are approved, Israeli police frequently fail to provide adequate security for convoys, leading to last-minute cancellations.
The IDF isn’t proactively engaging Gaza’s population, nor establishing reception centers within the strip to streamline the exit process. Israel’s current approach relies heavily on coordination with the World Health Organization, whose Gazan officials maintain close ties with Hamas, granting the group an implicit veto over who is permitted to leave.
Ultimately, Netanyahu and relevant ministers are responsible. Netanyahu himself admitted in discussions, “I could be doing more.” This time, however, words won’t suffice. Israel’s government needs to make a decision, or this rare, historic opportunity to alter the reality in Gaza will vanish amidst a bureaucratic funeral procession attended by officials as far as the eye can see.
VIDEO:
THERE IS NO SUCH TERM AS PALESTINIANS
THOSE LIVING IN GAZA COME FROM JORDAN SYRIA LEBANON IRAQ LIBYA. HENCE NO SUCH THING AS A PALESTINIAN PEOPLE OR STATE. IT WAS A TERM CONCOCTED BY YASSIR ARAFAT, YEMACH SHMOM, TO PROMOTE AN ARAB STATE IN GAZA FOR THE SO CALLED “REFUGEES”
The Keretites: as we have noted previously, the original Philistines were displaced by Moses’s time by invaders from the island of Crete (called in scripture Kaftor or Keret) who were then called Philistines themselves (since the word “Philistine” [פלש] means “invader”)
Those living in Israel came from America Canada Europe England Australia New Zealand so by your definition there would be no United States or Canada or Australia or New Zealand because everyone living in those countries came from somewhere else. Note (my reply is not screaming in all caps.)
Kudos to Amit Segal for asking some difficult questions. One of the best journalists in Israel, and not an idiot like so many others.
The deep state is deep
I guess the point of the war is not victory over the enemies but military control of Israelis.
And destruction of frum life by forced conscription and forced exposure to kol dover asur.
Oct 7th should have never been allowed to happen. Just like the LA fires lack of water.
The corruption and greed runs so deep that human life no longer holds intrinsic value by the powers that be.
Hashem yaazor
Let those countries pay for it under Israeli security. Or let Egypt open rafa. Israel can’t afford any Gazans out unsupervised.
Yes Israeli beauracracy sucks. That’s its own issue.
In the meantime, the priority is containing and destroying Hamas.
Then he knows, for sure, he’s not doing enough and therefore it’s incumbent upon him to ‘Do More’ Now!
“Why won’t Jordan or Egypt help the Palestinian people?” Google Black September. You know, that time from 1967-1970 when Jordan extended citizenship to all Palestinians in the West Bank, only for the PLO to cockily thank them by attempting a coup and attempted assassination on Jordanian King Hussein. By 1970 Jordan expelled all Palestinians. The PLO fled to Lebanon. Within 3 years their terrorism caused a civil war there and were kicked out of Lebanon. Egypt watched this and said hell nah. When Hamas took over Gaza in 2007, Egypt SEALED THEIR BORDER. The Palestinian people, if they consider themselves… Read more »
To suggest Bibi or his government are not doing everything in their power to return hostages and secure Israel is nonsense and prevents achdus
Why is this post related to Lubavitch news?
Lubavitchers are becoming outwardly more and more right wing, letting people like Ben Gvir into our community and into 770!!!!
Who separation between shul and state when we invite the state into the shul!
Chutzpah!
And where is the lubavitch push back to this radicalization? I am not saying we all need to hold the views of Avraham Chein, but can we not devalue the unique gifts chassidus has to offer the world by trying to be another political faction.
Build a pier to
1) allow Voluntary Emigration of Trans-Jordanians and Gazans by voluntarily boarding Cruise Ships traveling to Libya
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-administration-working-plan-move-1-million-palestinians-libya-rcna207224
2) facilitate humanitarian aid distribution
Jay S.