Gaza Herald — An in-depth investigative report published by Al Jazeera on its digital platforms Friday evening has uncovered the covert mechanisms behind what it describes as the “soft” or “quiet” deportation of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. Titled “Soft Deportation: Who Is Behind the Hidden Displacement of Gazans, and What Are Their Links to Israel?”, the investigation traces an organized campaign that has already displaced hundreds of Palestinians from Gaza to at least three countries in Africa and Asia.
Based on a wide range of sources, documents, and media reports, the investigation exposes a sophisticated and coordinated network facilitating the transfer of Gaza residents out of the enclave under deceptive humanitarian pretenses. Central to this operation are a group calling itself Al-Majd Association and a recently established Israeli entity known as the “Voluntary Migration Office.”
Trump’s Plan and Israel’s Policy Shift
According to the investigation, the deportation drive accelerated after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly proposed relocating Gaza’s population outside the Strip. Following this announcement, the Israeli government reportedly moved to significantly ease restrictions on Palestinians seeking to leave Gaza.
Among the most striking findings is that Israeli authorities drastically lowered so-called “security criteria,” approving no less than 95 percent of exit requests, an unprecedented rate compared to previous years. This policy shift, the report suggests, was designed to facilitate mass departure rather than individual humanitarian cases.
Two Main Routes Out of Gaza
Data tracked by Al Jazeera shows that Gazans are being displaced through two primary routes. The first involves travel through Israel’s Ramon Airport en route to a third country. The second route passes through the Allenby Bridge into Jordan, followed by onward travel to destinations in Africa or Asia.
So far, figures indicate that approximately 7,000 Palestinians have left Gaza via Kerem Shalom crossing, either toward Jordan or for international travel through Ramon Airport. These movements, the investigation notes, are taking place amid one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes in Gaza’s history.
Suspicious Flights and Fake Humanitarian Fronts
The investigative team closely tracked aircraft believed to have transported displaced Gazans on suspicious flights, documenting routes from Ramon Airport to destinations in Africa and Asia. The investigation also sought to expose the so-called “humanitarian” fronts used to legitimize the displacement, as well as shell companies that serve as official covers for what critics describe as a systematic effort to empty Gaza of its population.
Beyond logistics, the report highlights the political dimension of the scheme, framing it as part of a broader Israeli strategy rather than isolated acts of migration.
Al-Majd Europe: A Digital Facade
One of the most alarming revelations concerns “Al-Majd Europe,” identified as the primary humanitarian façade for the deportation operation. The organization presents itself as a non-profit humanitarian entity dedicated to “supporting Muslim communities affected by conflict.”
However, a detailed analysis of its website and digital presence reveals serious red flags. Despite its polished online identity, Al-Majd Europe lacks legal registration, a verifiable physical address, or transparent governance structures. Instead, it relies on WhatsApp numbers to collect highly sensitive personal data from vulnerable Palestinians.
Investigators concluded that the organization’s digital footprint appears deliberately constructed to mislead, suggesting it functions more as a deceptive online front than a legitimate charity.
Inactive Accounts and Questionable Identities
Al-Majd Europe’s social media accounts further deepen suspicions. While the organization claims to have been founded in 2010, its digital platforms only appeared in 2024 and 2025, with virtually no activity or meaningful content. The accounts show signs of complete dormancy.
Moreover, administrators and followers of these pages frequently express hostility toward Hamas and frustration over Gaza’s situation, and several accounts appear to be fake or automated. The investigation concludes that many of the individuals listed as administrators are either fictitious or lack any verifiable digital identity.
Fabricated Stories and Stolen Images
The investigation also found that Al-Majd Europe relies on fabricated or stolen images and narratives to manipulate public opinion and fabricate a false humanitarian legitimacy. Rather than providing real aid, the evidence points to a deliberate effort to exploit suffering while facilitating displacement.
Israel’s “Voluntary Migration Office”
The second major pillar of the deportation network is Israel’s newly established “Migration Office,” announced after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz revealed that the Israeli security cabinet had approved the creation of a “voluntary migration office for Gaza residents wishing to relocate to third countries.”
Notably, the office was established around the same time Al-Majd Europe launched its Facebook page, a coincidence the investigation argues is far from accidental. This timing strongly suggests coordination between the so-called humanitarian front and official or semi-official Israeli migration structures.
A Central Figure Emerges
An investigation by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, cited by Al Jazeera, identifies Tomer Lind, an Israeli-Estonian businessman, as the key figure behind Al-Majd Association. Lind’s name appears in official documents and correspondence related to travel arrangements for displaced Gazans.
Lind holds both Israeli and Estonian citizenship and is reported to have established a network of shell companies, many of which have no registered employees, vague services, and financial figures inconsistent with their declared capital.
A Web of Shell Companies
Much like Al-Majd Europe, these companies lack proper registration and verifiable physical presence in the countries where they claim to operate. Investigators found no concrete evidence of their activities on the ground, raising serious doubts about their legitimacy.
According to the investigation, Tomer Lind is the only individual with a confirmed real presence within these entities. Other purported members were found to be using multiple aliases across different platforms, or may not exist at all.
This reinforces the conclusion that the companies’ structures and assets are built on misleading or falsified information, mirroring the deceptive nature of Al-Majd Europe itself.
“Soft Deportation” as State Policy
The investigation concludes that what is unfolding is a systematic “soft deportation” campaign, orchestrated by a complex network led by an Israeli businessman and supported by shell companies operating under humanitarian disguises. Crucially, the operation appears to enjoy political and security backing at the highest levels of the Israeli government, including the Defense Ministry and the official migration office.
The network exploits Gaza’s catastrophic humanitarian conditions, using digital deception and fake charitable fronts to collect personal data and facilitate the transfer of Palestinians to countries in Africa and Asia.
Ultimately, the report argues, these efforts serve Israel’s long-term strategic objective: emptying Gaza of its indigenous population without overt mass expulsions, replacing visible force with bureaucratic, humanitarian, and digital manipulation.
