The forced eviction of Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan is part of Israel's strategy, Palestinian Ambassador to Vienna Salah Abdel-Shafi told Sputnik.
"We believe this is Israel’s plan - forced evictions both in Gaza, to make people go to Egypt, and in the West Bank, so that it leads to forced evictions to Jordan," Abdel-Shafi said.
On October 7, the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas launched a surprise large-scale rocket attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip, breaching the border and killing and capturing residents of nearby Israeli military installations and population centers. The movement said its operation, Al-Aqsa Flood, was in response to Israel's provocations and occupation of the Palestinian territories.
Israel retaliated by ordering a complete blockade of the Gaza Strip, home to more than 2 million people, cutting off water, food and fuel supplies. On October 27, Israel launched a large-scale ground invasion of Gaza, ostensibly to destroy Hamas militants and rescue hostages.
On November 24, Qatar brokered an agreement between Israel and Hamas for a temporary cease-fire, the exchange of some prisoners and hostages, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. The ceasefire was extended several times, but fighting resumed on December 1.
