BERLIN — The foreign ministers of Germany and Austria on Thursday expressed concern about a plan by Israel’s defense minister to move displaced Palestinians into a closed-off zone.  

“I share this concern about these Israeli plans or statements regarding a permanent occupation and expulsion of the Palestinian population from parts of Gaza,” Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said, standing alongside the foreign ministers of Germany and Israel. “From Austria’s point of view, Gaza must remain Palestinian, and it is also the subject of our talks that we repeatedly point out that Israel is bound by international law in its fight, in its legitimate fight against terrorism.”  

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, when asked about the Israeli plan, emphasized the importance of achieving a ceasefire in Gaza that would rule out “other developments that we would indeed view with concern.”

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz briefed reporters earlier this week on his plan to place some 600,000 displaced Palestinians in Gaza inside a sealed-off zone, according to media reports. The defense minister said the entire population of more than 2 million Palestinians in Gaza would eventually be moved into the zone, which the minister reportedly referred to as a “humanitarian city.”

Germany and Austria are among Israel’s closest allies in Europe, but it’s unclear whether their criticisms will change thinking inside the Israeli government.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar defended the defense minister’s idea, saying the zone would be built to protect civilians, and ruled out the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza.

“Everything, even this idea that was mentioned, it is in the context of international law and the evacuation of the population for its own safety from places that are actually battlefields,” he said.

Sa’ar also said that a deal to reach a ceasefire and free Israeli hostages in Gaza is “achievable” amid ongoing talks in Doha.

“If a temporary ceasefire will be achieved, we will negotiate on a permanent ceasefire,” he said.

His Austrian and German counterparts also expressed optimism with regard to a possible ceasefire, with Meinl-Reisinger referring to the ongoing talks as “a historic chance” and a “window of opportunity” to achieve peace and stability for the entire region.

The foreign ministers also said they had established a new format for meeting as a triad, dubbed the Vienna Trilogue, and would meet again soon in Berlin.