Right-wing Israeli politicians on Thursday renewed calls for the relocation of the Gaza Strip's 2 million Palestinian residents as campaigning heats up before Israel's parliamentary election in October.
Far-right Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir presented a political programme entitled "Disengagement 710" envisaging the voluntary emigration of people from the coastal strip, which has been largely destroyed by two years of war.
Such proposals have repeatedly been met with sharp international criticism.
According to his office, Ben-Gvir's plan aims to establish a dedicated ministry, as well as secure agreements with countries that would take in people from Gaza, alongside financial and organizational support for those leaving.
According to Ben-Gvir, the initiative foresees the departure of 250,000 people in the first year, around 1.1 million within three years and around 1.9 million within seven years.
Turkey, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Arab states are among the countries mentioned as possible destinations.
Implementation is initially expected to cost around $3.5 billion, and over $16 billion of additional expenditure is required to fully execute the long-term programme, depending on international participation.
So far, however, no country has officially agreed to cooperate with such plans.
Referring to the situation following the Gaza war, Ben-Gvir said: "We must seize this historic opportunity to bring about a historic solution."
Israel's peace treaties with the Palestinians in the early 1990s were a "disaster," according to the minister.