Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz told a news conference that Israel is "organised and prepared" to remove Palestinians from Gaza by sea, air, and every possible route once the United States approves a destination, stating that "there is no real solution for Gaza in the end without this migration" [1][4][5][9]. Katz said President Donald Trump "froze" the relocation plan but did not cancel it, and that countries willing to receive displaced Palestinians are awaiting American backing before proceeding [6][12]. The declaration came alongside Israeli strikes on Lebanon and a warning from Katz that Israel is prepared for a possible Iranian attack over the Jewish New Year holidays [7][8].

Katz stated that the moment for removal would come when Hamas is judged to have failed its ceasefire commitments, after which Israel would have a "green light" to proceed militarily and territorially [12][7]. He said that 80 percent of Gazans want to leave but are blocked by Hamas [4][5][26]. Israeli media reported that the defence ministry unit COGAT conducted a survey on Gazans' interest in relocation, that National Security Council head Shmuel Ben Ezra held an urgent meeting on encouraging emigration, and that Mossad officials admitted no country has yet agreed to accept displaced Palestinians [7][12].

Trump initially called for all two million Palestinians to leave Gaza and proposed developing the territory, then retreated after Egyptian and Arab pushback [4][5][6]. His subsequent ceasefire plan states that no one will be forced to leave and that those who depart may return [1][4][5]. Katz acknowledged that Arab state pressure and investment proposals led Trump to freeze the plan rather than abandon it [22][21].

US Senator Chris Van Hollen said Katz's statement confirms that Israel is planning to ethnically cleanse Gaza and called on the United States to "end our complicity" [1]. Senator Jeff Merkley, alongside Van Hollen, warned after visiting the Gaza-Egypt border that Israel was planning to ethnically cleanse the territory [1]. Former Israeli Prime Ministers Yair Lapid and Ehud Olmert condemned a related "humanitarian city" plan, with Olmert calling it ethnic cleansing and Lapid describing it as a "concentration camp" if exit is prohibited [18]. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini warned the plan would de facto create massive concentration camps at the border with Egypt [18], and Middle East Council on Global Affairs fellow Omar Rahman said Israel's ultimate goal is "the physical destruction of Gaza, the engineered collapse of Palestinian society there and the forcible depopulation of the entirety of the Strip" [18].

The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant over alleged war crimes [4][5]. Israel and the United States deny the ICC's allegations [4][5]. Separately, South Africa submitted to the International Court of Justice that Israel has failed to comply with the court's binding provisional measures and is continuing to breach the Genocide Convention in Gaza [2]. Amnesty International regional director Heba Morayef said that "rather than complying with the court's mandatory measures, Israel is continuing to commit genocide against Palestinians in Gaza," citing blocked aid, continued strikes, and denial of investigator access [2]. The ICJ had found Palestinians' right to protection from genocide plausible and issued provisional measures ordering Israel to prevent genocide, enable humanitarian access, and preserve evidence [2].

Netanyahu visited Israeli troops at what he called the "Yellow Line" inside Gaza and declared that Israel controls roughly 60 percent of the territory and will not withdraw [3][6][11][14][20]. "We are doing everything to achieve our goal — disarming Hamas and demilitarising Gaza," Netanyahu said [6]. Hamas accused Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire and undermining the broader US-backed plan that calls for Israeli withdrawal alongside Hamas disarmament [3].

A rare Israeli ground infiltration into the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City on 1 September resulted in the capture of Muein al-Arabid, described by Israel as a senior Hamas official who hid hostages taken on 7 October 2023 [13][10]. The prime minister's office and Shin Bet stated the operation was carried out exclusively by Israeli forces [13]. Hamas denounced the raid as "a criminal operation," saying al-Arabid was wounded along with his children and his wife was killed [13][10]. Palestinian political scientist Khalil Sayegh said raid videos show Israeli-backed militiamen escorting Israeli forces and that militia chief Ghassan al-Douhaini, not the Israeli army, published the captive's photo — evidence Sayegh said proves direct coordination between the militia and Israel [10].

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched strikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in Nabatiyeh, southern Lebanon, in response to two explosive drones fired at its troops near the Ali Taher ridge [8]. The military said the attack neutralised an immediate threat and that it would continue operating to prevent Hezbollah from executing plots [8]. The strikes follow Hezbollah's rejection of the June 26 US-mediated ceasefire terms requiring its disarmament [8]. In southern Syria, Israeli forces have conducted repeated incursions beyond the 1974 ceasefire line, carrying out house raids and detentions [15]. Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad Al Chibani reported 65 Israeli incursions in July and 52 in the first 18 days of August [15]. The United Nations stated that Israel's permanent presence beyond the ceasefire line is illegal, and Abderrazak, a Syrian villager, described his brother's seizure by Israeli forces a year ago, saying no authority has given the family hope of his return [15].

Displaced Palestinian families in Gaza's Al-Mawasi tent camp described disease, lack of water, and absence of infrastructure as conditions that make daily life nearly impossible [19]. Samira Al-Ali, a mother of four, said illness has become part of daily life since losing her husband at the war's start; Saleh Al-Swafiri described long walks for water; and Nasreen said the tent is cramped and conditions are exhausting [19].

The ceasefire framework remains in place with its formal exclusion of forced displacement, while Katz insists the removal plan is frozen rather than cancelled and Israel's military operations continue across Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria [1][6][8][15]. Netanyahu has pledged that Israel will not withdraw from the territory it controls until Hamas is disarmed and Gaza is demilitarized [3][6].