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Jerusalem, 8 July 2025 – Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has directed the military to develop a plan to relocate Gaza’s entire Palestinian population to a camp in the south of the territory, according to Israeli media. Speaking to journalists on Monday, Katz outlined plans for a “humanitarian city” on the ruins of Rafah, initially housing 600,000 people and eventually all 2.1 million Gazans.
Katz stated that individuals would undergo security screening to ensure they are not Hamas operatives and would not be permitted to leave the camp. He suggested construction could begin during a proposed 60-day ceasefire currently under negotiation between Israel and Hamas. The proposal has drawn sharp criticism. Israeli human rights lawyer Michael Sfard described it as an “operational plan for a crime against humanity,” warning it aims to transfer Gaza’s population to the southern tip of the Strip in preparation for deportation. The United Nations has previously stated that forced displacement of civilians in occupied territories violates international humanitarian law and could amount to ethnic cleansing. Neither the Palestinian Authority nor Hamas has commented. During a White House meeting on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that the US oversee post-war Gaza and resettle its population elsewhere. Netanyahu endorsed Trump’s “free choice” vision, saying people could stay or leave, and noted close cooperation with the US to find countries willing to host Palestinians. Trump expressed optimism, citing support from surrounding nations. In March, Arab states endorsed a $53 billion Egyptian plan for Gaza’s reconstruction, allowing residents to remain and rejecting displacement as a violation of international law. The Palestinian Authority and Hamas supported this plan, but the US and Israel deemed it unrealistic. Palestinians fear a repeat of the 1948 Nakba, when hundreds of thousands were displaced during Israel’s creation. Today, Gaza hosts many of those refugees and their descendants, alongside millions more in the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, launched after Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack that killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, has killed over 57,500 Gazans, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Over 90% of Gaza’s homes are damaged or destroyed, and critical systems for healthcare, water, and sanitation have collapsed, exacerbating shortages of food, fuel, and medicine. **Related Developments:** - Trump remains optimistic about ceasefire talks despite no breakthrough. - Israeli strikes targeted Houthi-held ports in Yemen in response to attacks. - Netanyahu faces pressure from Trump and domestic groups to agree to a ceasefire and hostage deal.
