Palestinians are sounding the alarm as top Israeli officials openly advocate for mass displacement and regional destabilisation. In remarks made Tuesday, far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich declared that Israel’s campaign in Gaza would not end until “hundreds of thousands” of Palestinians were forced out of the territory and Syria was “dismantled.”

Such statements have reignited fears that the war on Gaza is not just a military campaign but part of a broader strategy aimed at uprooting Palestinians from their homeland—a plan that dates back decades but has gained renewed momentum under the cover of war and silence from much of the international community.

Since March, Israel has intensified its attacks on Gaza, breaking a temporary US-brokered ceasefire. The renewed bombardment has turned large swathes of the enclave into ruins. Over 50,000 Palestinians—mainly women and children—have been killed, and nearly the entire population has been displaced, forced to survive in tent camps and shattered buildings.

Meanwhile, for more than 50 days, Israel has blocked the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, pushing the population to the brink of starvation. Israeli authorities have reportedly lobbied foreign governments to accept displaced Palestinians, fuelling concerns that forced transfer is not merely a threat, but an unfolding reality.

Smotrich’s recent threats to "severely defeat" Hezbollah and dismantle Syria reflect an increasingly aggressive posture towards the wider region. His calls come even as armed groups in Syria have distanced themselves from confrontation with Israel, signalling that Tel Aviv’s ambitions may extend beyond defence.

As famine looms and bombs fall, Palestinians see not just a war—but a calculated effort to erase their presence from the land. The question now is whether the world will continue to look away.