Netanyahu’s office releases statement on leaked intelligence document regarding proposal to relocate millions of Gazans to Sinai

(CNN) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office on Tuesday downplayed a document leaked from the Ministry of Intelligence that proposed relocating millions of Palestinians to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula.

Netanyahu’s office said in a statement: “This is a preliminary document, like dozens of similar documents prepared by all political and security levels.”

He added: “The next day the issue was not discussed by official Israeli channels, and they are now focusing on dismantling Hamas’ capabilities.”

The document, dated October 13, was published a few days after Hamas’ sudden attack on the Sesha Mekumet website.

In it, the Ministry of Intelligence presents three options for dealing with civilians in Gaza after the Hamas attacks and the outbreak of war, and the authors of the document conclude that “Alternative C,” which requires the transfer of the civilian population of Gaza in North Sinai “would be best for Israel’s long-term security.”

As part of the plan, “tent cities will be built in the area, while other permanent cities will be built later.”

The plan also calls for the creation of a humanitarian corridor to assist resettled residents and the creation of a security perimeter to prevent them from entering Israel.

The Israeli government’s recognition of the document will likely increase suspicion among Arab countries in the region that Israel is deliberately seeking to permanently displace Palestinians.

Egypt and Jordan have warned that any plan to relocate Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank to their countries would lead to an escalation of conflict in the region.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi had previously indicated that Israel’s calls for Palestinian civilians in northern Gaza to move south may be part of a broader plan to move them from the region.

Al-Sisi said: “The movement or expulsion of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip to Egypt simply means that a similar situation will also occur, namely the expulsion of Palestinians from the West Bank to Jordan.”