The Gaza Disengagement Plan describes the move to withdraw all Jewish Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip unilaterally as soon as possible, lead by Ariel Sharon. The Plan has received substantial support from EU and other developed nations, but is widely viewed with skepticism in the Muslim world as being intended to bolster US support for continued occupation of the West Bank of the Jordan River, and its substantial water resources.

It is also widely opposed by the settlers and their supporters who comprise a substantial base of Sharon's Likud Party. The Plan created a rift in Sharon's coalition government, which he dealt with by inviting in the Labour Party of Israel and its leader Shimon Peres to form a government fully committed to carrrying out the Plan. A referendum on the Plan held within Likud (only) had earlier failed, but Sharon had gained from U.S. President George W. Bush, substantial concessions regarding continued Israeli occupation of the West Bank , continuing the construction of the West Bank Wall and denying the right of return to Palestinian diaspora "refugees" to what is now Israeli occupied territory or Israel proper.