The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed deep concern over Israeli government’s suggestion of mass displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.

Volker Turk said he is “very disturbed” by high-level Israeli officials’ statements on plans to transfer civilians from Gaza to third countries.

“Very disturbed by high-level Israeli officials’ statements on plans to transfer civilians from #Gaza to third countries”, Turk said in a tweet on X.  

“85 percent of people in Gaza are already internally displaced. They have the right to return to their homes”, added the UN official.

"Int'l law prohibits forcible transfer of protected persons within or deportation from occupied territory," he warned.

Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have expressed support for voluntary migration of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, urging countries to take them in. Their calls have sparked regional and international condemnation.

Israel launched air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by Palestinian armed group Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 22,313 Palestinians have since been killed and 57,296 others injured, according to Gaza’s health authorities, while nearly 1,200 Israelis believed to have been killed in the Hamas incursion.

The onslaught has left Gaza in ruins, with 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure damaged or destroyed, and nearly 2 million residents displaced amid acute shortages of food, clean water, and medicine.