The military said it targeted sites in Syria and Lebanon that were under construction, without explicitly confirming whether they hit them.

How to Use Israel orders army to plan to let Palestinians leave Gaza

JERUSALEM — Israel's defence minister ordered the army on Thursday to prepare for voluntary departures from Gaza, as President Donald Trump ruled out sending US troops to the territory.

Trump had earlier proposed moving Palestinians out of Gaza, sparking uproar from leaders in the Middle East and beyond.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said he had instructed the military to formulate a plan for Palestinians to leave Gaza, which has been ravaged by more than a year of war.

I have instructed the IDF (military) to prepare a plan to enable voluntary departure for Gaza residents, Katz said, adding they could go to any country willing to accept them.

Trump announced his proposal for Gaza to audible gasps on Tuesday at a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the first foreign leader to meet him at the White House since his inauguration.

The United Nations warned any forced displacement of Palestinians would be tantamount to ethnic cleansing.

Trump insisted everybody loves the plan, saying it would involve the United States taking over Gaza, though he offered few details on how more than two million Palestinians would be removed.

His administration later appeared to backtrack, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying any transfer of Gazans would be temporary.

Trump doubled down on his proposal on Thursday, however.

The Gaza Strip would be turned over to the United States by Israel at the conclusion of fighting, he said on his Truth Social platform.

No soldiers by the US would be needed! Stability for the region would reign!!!

Rubio also said later that those denouncing Trump's plan should step forward and provide a solution and answer to that problem.

Netanyahu on Thursday called Trump's proposal the first original idea to be raised in years, adding it was worth listening very well to this idea.

He also said his meeting with Trump was a great turning point for the future of Israel, in a video statement released by the prime minister's office.

Hamas's spokesman condemned Trump's statements as absolutely unacceptable.

Trump's remarks about Washington taking control of Gaza amount to an open declaration of intent to occupy the territory, Hazem Qassem said.

Gaza is for its people and they will not leave.

A ceasefire deal reached last month is intended to halt the war in Gaza, which was triggered by the October 7 attack on Israel, led by Palestinian militant group Hamas.

'Greatest friend'

Netanyahu, speaking to Fox News on Wednesday, called Trump's proposal remarkable, adding that it should be really pursued... because I think it will create a different future for the future of Israel, in a video statement released by the prime minister's office.

In a bid to address the dire humanitarian situation, aid has been rushed into the territory since the ceasefire took effect.

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said Thursday that more than 10,000 aid trucks had crossed into Gaza since the truce went into effect, calling it a massive surge.

In neighbouring Lebanon, Israel said late Thursday it had struck two sites that allegedly contained weapons belonging to the Hezbollah group, a Hamas ally, despite a separate ceasefire deal in that country.

Lebanon's state news agency NNA said Israel had carried out air strikes on the south and east of the country.

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CEO / Co-Founder

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