Otzma Yehudit chairman and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Thursday unveiled "Disengagement 710," a policy plan to encourage Gaza Strip residents to emigrate voluntarily to countries willing to receive them.
The plan calls for establishing a dedicated government ministry, reaching agreements with destination countries, creating regulated emigration pathways, and providing assistance and absorption packages for emigrants.
The proposal is the result of an extended policy review that has been underway since October 7 through a special staff established on Ben-Gvir's behalf.
During that period, the team examined the issue of emigration in depth, reviewing international models, data, legal and economic aspects, potential absorption options in various countries, and ways to turn the idea of voluntary emigration into an organized government implementation plan.
According to the plan, the goal is the voluntary departure of approximately 250,000 Gaza residents in the first year, 1.11 million within three years, and approximately 1.86 million within seven years.
Otzma Yehudit demands ministry dedicated to Gaza emigration
To implement the plan, Otzma Yehudit is demanding that the next government establish a dedicated ministry for voluntary emigration, headed by a minister and operating through a director-general, an independent budget, an international negotiating team, and a dedicated implementation apparatus.
As part of the policy work, Turkey, Ethiopia, Congo, and Arab countries are being examined as possible destinations, alongside additional countries. Any agreement would be conditional on the consent of the destination country and arrangements granting emigrants legal status.
The 12 principles of the "Disengagement 710" plan are:
Voluntary emigration only: Departure by those who choose to leave, without coercion.
Regulated destination country: Departure would not be permitted without a country that has agreed to receive the emigrants and provide them with regulated legal status.
Individual file: A personalized pathway would be developed for every individual or family, including a destination, documentation, visas, and an absorption plan.
Preserving families: Preference would be given to families departing and being absorbed together.
Multiple destination countries: Agreements would be pursued with as many countries as possible.
Different emigration pathways: These would include employment, education, medical treatment, family reunification, and community sponsorship.
Absorption package: Assistance would include travel, initial housing, professional training, employment, and support for up to 24 months.
Payment based on implementation: Funds would be transferred to countries and absorption bodies in accordance with actual absorption and the fulfillment of targets.
Security screening: Each case would be examined individually according to criteria set by security officials.
International partnership: Countries and international bodies would be recruited to participate in financing and absorption.
Implementation targets: 250,000 emigrants in the first year, 1.11 million within three years, and approximately 1.86 million within seven years.
Transparency and oversight: Monthly data would be published on applications, approvals, departures, costs, and the scale of absorption in destination countries.
The plan proposes an initial Israeli investment of NIS 10 billion to establish and launch the system, alongside an Israeli matching framework of up to NIS 50 billion, subject to international participation and agreements with receiving countries.
Ben-Gvir calls for 'historic solution' to Gaza terrorism
Ben-Gvir said the plan was intended to capitalize on what he described as Israel's achievements in the latest war and prevent the sacrifices made during the fighting from having been in vain.
"In the latest war, the State of Israel achieved significant successes against Gazan terrorism," he said. "Those achievements came at a difficult and painful price, a terrible and awful price in the blood of our sons. The blood of our sons and daughters must not, God forbid, have been shed in vain. We must seize this historic opportunity to bring about a historic solution."
Ben-Gvir said that, since the start of the war, he had demanded the encouragement of emigration from Gaza.
"At first, I was treated like a delusional extremist. They asked me not to say it out loud. They told me I was causing international damage and that emigration must not be discussed openly. Then, in one day, everything changed: President Trump himself announced the encouragement of emigration as a solution to the Gaza issue. In an instant, Ben-Gvir's plan became legitimate. Suddenly, everyone became Ben-Gvir."
Disengagement 710, he claimed, was a correction "both for the Gaza problem and for the residents of Gaza," as well as for "the sin of the concept."
"What a shame they did not listen to Gandhi," he said, using a nickname for Rehavam Ze'evi, an Israeli right-wing politician who advocated for population transfer, "and what a shame that instead we brought the Oslo disaster upon ourselves, with the insane idea of taking terrorists, arming them with weapons, and naively believing that murderers would turn into doves of peace just because we gave them Kalashnikovs. It is time to admit it: Gandhi was right!"
Ben-Gvir stated that establishing an Emigration Ministry would be at the top of Otzma Yehudit's demands after the upcoming election.
"I am stating my commitment to the people of Israel out loud: With God's help, I will advance this plan in the next term. Instead of the illusions of Peace Now, we need the actions of emigration now. Instead of digging tunnels, it is time to pack suitcases. Instead of working in terrorism, it is time to find work abroad and build new lives."