Egypt Sindir Israel: It's My Job If Gazans Are Considered Voluntary To Refuge

DOC WHO via UN News

JAKARTA - Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, whose country has become a key mediator in efforts to end Gaza's war, said the voluntary transfer of Palestinians was "empty".

Israel previously asked Gaza City residents to move south, as its troops advanced to urban areas.

"If man-made hunger occurs (in Gaza), the goal is to expel residents from their lands. It's nonsense to say that this is a voluntary refugee," Abdelatty told a news conference with UN Agency Commissioner General for Palestinian Refugees, Philippe Lazzarini.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports the idea that Palestinians in Gaza should be allowed to leave voluntarily and suggests that other countries accept them.

Netanyahu's office said on Friday he had spoken about the basic human rights of each individual to choose their place of residence, especially during wartime.

The Egyptian minister also said he had spoken with US special envoy Steve Witkoff on Friday and discussed intensive efforts to implement the latest ceasefire proposal.

He blamed Israel for what he called Israel's stubborn stance on the delay in reaching a ceasefire.

Hamas approved a 60-day ceasefire proposal with Israel in August, which included the return of half of the hostages detained in Gaza and the release of several Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

An official Egyptian source said the proposal Hamas received included a 60-day suspension of Israeli military operations and outlined a framework for a comprehensive deal to end the conflict that has lasted nearly two years.

A few days later, Netanyahu said Israel would immediately resume negotiations for the release of all hostages detained in Gaza and an end to the war, but with conditions that Israel could accept.