The decision marks a remarkable endorsement of a plan once considered a far-right fantasy – and comes despite the prime minister’s earlier pledge not to permanently displace Gaza’s civilian population.

Plans by Israel for a new authority to facilitate the departure of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip were criticized by Israeli activists as well as by Jordan and Germany on Monday. A spokeswoman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier confirmed that the Security Cabinet had approved a proposal to set up an authority tasked with "preparing the voluntary departure of