Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, has ordered the military to prepare a controversial relocation plan for Gaza, sparking global outrage. Katz announced that Israel intends to create a so-called humanitarian city on the ruins of Rafah designed to house Gaza’s entire population.
Initially, 600,000 Palestinians, mostly already displaced in the al-Mawasi area, would be relocated. They would face strict Israeli security screenings before entering the fenced camp and, once inside, would not be permitted to leave.
Katz said the ultimate goal is to move all 2.1 million Gaza residents into this enclosed area under Israeli control. Legal and human rights experts immediately condemned the plan. Israeli lawyer Michael Sfard said the project resembled a calculated crime against humanity.
The camp construction would begin during a proposed 60-day ceasefire if agreed upon by Israel and Hamas. Critics say the term humanitarian city misleads the public about the actual conditions Palestinians will face.
At the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced support for President Donald Trump’s idea to relocate Palestinians elsewhere. Arab nations have already rejected any form of Palestinian displacement, calling it a violation of international law.
They proposed a $53 billion Egyptian plan to rebuild Gaza without moving its residents. Humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain dire. According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 57,500 people have died since October 7, 2023.
