Israeli Strikes Kill Three in Gaza as Far‑Right Minister Pushes Mass Relocation Plan

On Thursday an Israeli drone swooped over the Rimal neighbourhood of western Gaza City, dropping at least two missiles on a group of civilians. The strike left one person dead and several others wounded, according to medical sources on the ground.

In the northern town of Beit Lahia, gunfire from Israeli forces hit another gathering of Palestinians. A 13‑year‑old child was killed on the spot, and an adult who was gravely injured later succumbed after being transferred to a medical point.

The Palestinian news agency Wafa reported the drone’s ammunition hit a civilian crowd, while Israeli officials claimed they had “identified two terrorists who crossed the Yellow Line” – the buffer zone that the United States‑brokered ceasefire established – and eliminated the threat.

Even though the ceasefire that took effect in October has largely halted large‑scale fighting, isolated Israeli attacks have continued, adding to the mounting death toll. The Gaza Health Ministry says the war that began in October 2023 has already claimed more than 73,470 lives, with 1,330 of those deaths occurring since the ceasefire began.

Amid the violence, Israel’s far‑right National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir used Thursday’s press briefing to unveil a controversial demographic plan. His office says the scheme aims to set up a dedicated ministry that would negotiate with other countries to accept Gaza’s residents.

Ben‑Gvir outlined a timetable: 250,000 people would leave in the first year, 1.1 million within three years, and roughly 1.9 million by the end of a seven‑year period. He described the proposal as “realistic” and framed it as a way to “encourage the emigration of Gaza’s inhabitants” to solve the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict.

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz echoed the sentiment, admitting the government is still working on ways to remove Palestinians from the Strip. Human‑rights groups warn that forced displacement of civilians in occupied territory constitutes a war crime under the Geneva Conventions.

Since the war began, the vast majority of Gaza’s 2 million residents have been internally displaced, living in makeshift shelters, schools and tents as their homes lie in ruins. The latest killings add another painful chapter to a conflict that shows few signs of de‑escalation.