Israeli army ordered not to criticize Trump's plan

The Israeli Defense Minister has ordered the military not to criticize Donald Trump's plan for the future of Gaza, leading to embarrassing explanations from the head of Israeli military intelligence.

"It is out of the question for [the Israeli army]] officers to speak against President Trump's important plan for Gaza and against the directives of political leaders," said Israel Katz. His statement indicated that he had ordered the chief of staff to reprimand the head of military intelligence (AMAN), General Shlomi Binder, "for the remarks attributed to him" on the subject.

While the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was in Washington, Donald Trump stunned everyone on Tuesday by proposing an American takeover of the Gaza Strip and the relocation of its Palestinian population to allow for its reconstruction. Gaza will be "turned over to the United States by Israel at the end of the fighting," he said. By then, the Palestinians "will have already been relocated" elsewhere in the region, such as Egypt or Jordan.

These two countries have rejected this option, which has provoked an international uproar and accusations of ethnic cleansing. But Israel said on Thursday it was preparing a plan for a "voluntary" departure of Gazans.

Katz specified that he had "instructed" the army "to prepare for promoting the plan for the voluntary relocation of Gaza residents who wish to leave for various places around the world." "This is what they are required to do, and this is what they will do," he said.

Israeli media report that the head of military intelligence has highlighted, during a working meeting, security difficulties that could notably lead to an escalation of violence in the West Bank, a Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967. According to some media, he mentioned significant risks during Ramadan, in March.

General Binder responded by assuring that he had not "expressed opposition to the Trump plan" and that he remained, like every soldier, "subordinate to the country's political leaders." "In my role, I presented the possible consequences of the speech on the subject, the enemy's security outlook, and my recommendations for offensive actions," he argued.

Hamas, against which Israel waged a devastating war in Gaza for 15 months, claimed that the American president's proposal was "a declaration of intent to occupy" the Palestinian territory.