Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday that his government will allow Palestinians to leave the Gaza Strip "during and after" ongoing military operations, relaxing years-old controls on the enclave’s borders. In a televised interview with Israel’s i24News, Netanyahu argued that civilians should be free to exit combat zones and, if they wish, emigrate abroad as Israel prepares a wider offensive against Hamas. People familiar with the matter told the Associated Press that Israel is already in exploratory talks with South Sudan about taking in Palestinians from Gaza. Six sources said the discussions form part of a broader Israeli effort to encourage what Netanyahu calls “voluntary migration,” an idea previously floated by U.S. President Donald Trump and revived by members of Israel’s governing coalition. Human-rights groups and several governments, including Egypt, warn that transferring Gaza’s population could breach international law by amounting to forced expulsion. South Sudanese civil-society leader Edmund Yakani cautioned his country should not become “a dumping ground,” while officials in Cairo have lobbied Juba not to accept the refugees. Israel’s Foreign Ministry and South Sudan’s government have not commented publicly on the talks. The Gaza conflict is now in its 22nd month, with much of the territory in ruins and the United Nations warning of widespread hunger. Despite the devastation, most Palestinians say Gaza remains an integral part of their homeland and reject permanent resettlement abroad. No timetable or target numbers have been disclosed for any departure scheme, and diplomats say the negotiations with South Sudan are still at an early stage.