Egypt and Qatar have sharply criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for suggesting Palestinians in Gaza could be displaced, warning that such a move would amount to a grave violation of international law.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Netanyahu’s comments reflected “ongoing attempts to prolong escalation in the region and perpetuate instability while avoiding accountability for Israeli violations in Gaza.”

In an interview with the Israeli Telegram channel Abu Ali Express, Netanyahu said “half of the population wants to leave Gaza” and claimed this would not amount to a “mass expulsion.” He further remarked: “I can open Rafah for them, but it will be closed immediately by Egypt.”

Egypt draws ‘red line’

Cairo reiterated its “categorical rejection” of any forcible displacement of Palestinians, saying such acts would be a “blatant violation of international humanitarian law” and “amount to war crimes that cannot be tolerated.”

The ministry stressed Egypt would never be complicit in enabling Palestinian displacement, describing the matter as a “red line that cannot be crossed.”

Qatar rejects ‘collective punishment’

Doha’s Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned Netanyahu’s remarks, calling them an “extension of the occupation’s approach to violating the rights of the brotherly Palestinian people.”

“The policy of collective punishment … will not succeed in forcing the Palestinian people to leave their land or in confiscating their legitimate rights,” it said, urging the international community to confront Israel’s “extremist and provocative policies.”

Mediation efforts continue

The criticism comes as both Egypt and Qatar remain central mediators in ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut, reporting from Amman, said Netanyahu’s remarks were “incredibly controversial,” adding that Egypt and Qatar’s condemnation highlights regional fears that Israel seeks to push Palestinians out of Gaza under the guise of reconstruction.