LJUBLJANA — Israel has sought to distance itself from fears of a mass forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar declaring that his government is not planning to expel or deport residents of the war-ravaged territory.

Saar said on Wednesday that Israel would not prevent Palestinians who voluntarily choose to leave Gaza from doing so if another country was prepared to receive them, but stressed that there was no plan to forcibly remove anyone from the territory.

His remarks come against a backdrop of repeated calls from some Israeli cabinet members for the removal of Gaza’s estimated two million residents, although those proposals have generally been presented as voluntary departures. The conflicting positions have fuelled international concern over whether Palestinians could ultimately face permanent displacement.

The issue is central to wider diplomatic efforts to resolve the Gaza conflict, as any perception of forced population transfer could deepen regional tensions, complicate negotiations and make prospects for a durable Israeli-Palestinian settlement even more difficult.

Saar made the comments in Ljubljana, where he was attending the opening of Israel’s embassy in Slovenia, as the two countries seek to reset diplomatic relations. He also praised Slovenia for its friendship and support for Israel.