Israeli defense minister tells army to prepare for Palestinians to leave Gaza

Palestinians take shelter in a heavily damaged building at Saftawi street in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip on Feb. 5, 2025, during a ceasefire deal in the war between Israel and Hamas. A man pushes a cart past a house that remains partly standing, but with sheets serving as makeshift walls, in an area largely destroyed by the Israeli army's air and ground offensive in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Feb. 5, 2025.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday he instructed the army to prepare plans for large numbers of Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip via land crossings as well as sea and air routes.