In recent weeks, Israel has been quietly advocating for the transfer of hundreds of thousands of civilians from the Gaza Strip to Egypt, according to senior foreign diplomats. The proposal aims to temporarily relocate individuals to refugee camps in Egypt's Sinai Desert, presenting it as a humanitarian initiative to protect Gazans from the ongoing war. However, the idea has been rejected by most countries, including the United States and Britain, due to concerns that such displacement could become permanent and destabilize Egypt. Palestinians also fear that Israel intends to use the war as a means of permanently displacing them from Gaza.

The suggestion to transfer Gazans to Egypt was made privately by Israeli leaders and diplomats to various foreign governments. Israel's interlocutors dismissed the idea mainly because of the potential long-term consequences and the risk of excluding Palestinians from their homeland. The international community is hesitating to support the proposal, cautious of any measure that could exacerbate tensions in the region.

Palestinians, who have already experienced displacement in the past, strongly oppose the Israeli plan. They view it as an attempt to use the ongoing conflict as an opportunity to permanently remove them from Gaza. The fear of a new "nakba," or catastrophe, similar to the mass displacement in 1948 when more than 700,000 Palestinians were expelled from their homes, looms large among Gazans.

The Israeli Prime Minister's office declined to comment on the proposal, maintaining a tight-lipped stance on the matter. Israel has previously called for the evacuation of the northern Gaza Strip, but it did not publicly suggest moving Palestinians across the Egyptian border.

Egypt has firmly rejected the idea of any kind of temporary or permanent displacement of Palestinians to its territory. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, in a recent speech, stated that Egypt completely rejects the forced displacement of Palestinians, emphasizing that it would only worsen the Palestinian cause.

Although some of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political allies have voiced support for the idea of temporarily relocating Palestinians to Egypt or other nearby countries, it remains unclear if Israel has fervently pursued this plan with foreign governments.

The diplomatic efforts of Israel to gain support for the transfer of Gazans has raised concerns regarding the future of Gaza once Israel's military operations conclude. Israel's objectives in the current war include dismantling Hamas and rescuing captured civilians and soldiers. However, the question of who will govern Gaza after these goals are achieved remains unresolved.

Some proposals suggest handing over Gaza to an international force to aid in its reconstruction before transferring control to the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the West Bank. However, the Palestinian Authority has expressed its unwillingness to take responsibility for Gaza without the establishment of a Palestinian state in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Within Israel, there are differing opinions on the matter. Some hardliners advocate for permanent expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, while others, including Likud lawmaker Ariel Kallner, have called for a new "nakba" in Gaza. On the other hand, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has stated that Israel does not seek to retain control over Gaza after the invasion.

The delicate role Egypt plays in Gaza, acting as a border guard, mediator, and facilitator of aid, further complicates the issue. Egypt fears that a sudden influx of Palestinians could further destabilize its already fragile security situation, potentially leading to increased conflict between Egypt and Israel.

As the discussions and disagreements continue, the uncertain fate of Gaza hangs in the balance. The rejection of the idea by both the international community and the Palestinians demonstrates the challenges in finding a resolution that respects the rights and aspirations of all parties involved.