Israel’s recent announcement about relocating the entire population of Gaza into a newly planned camp on the ruins of Rafah has sparked widespread condemnation from Palestinians, human rights activists, and international observers. The plan, outlined by Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz, has been described as a forcible population transfer that could amount to ethnic cleansing and a crime against humanity.
The Controversial Plan: A “Humanitarian City” on Rafah’s Ruins
On July 7, 2025, Israel Katz revealed in a closed-door briefing to military reporters that the Israeli military has been instructed to prepare a plan to move all Palestinians living in Gaza, approximately 2.1 million people, into a camp-like “humanitarian city” on the southern edge of Gaza, specifically on the ruins of the city of Rafah. The initial phase would involve relocating about 600,000 Palestinians from an existing “humanitarian zone” to this new site, with the rest to be transferred gradually in phases.
Katz emphasized that the plan includes security screenings to ensure that those relocated are not Hamas operatives. Once inside the camp, Palestinians would be confined and not allowed to leave. Construction could begin during a 60-day ceasefire currently under negotiation between Israel and Hamas, according to Katz’s statements to Israeli media.
Rafah: From Bustling City to Ruins and Proposed Confinement Zone
Rafah, once a vibrant city with over 300,000 residents, has been reduced to rubble following months of Israeli military operations aimed at rooting out Hamas militants. The city now lies deserted, its streets patrolled by Israeli military vehicles amid destroyed buildings and widespread devastation. Residents who fled have been forced into a nearby “humanitarian area” where conditions are harsh, with limited access to water, food, and medical aid.
The Israeli military has been flattening the remaining ruins of Rafah, which many Palestinians fear is part of a deliberate strategy to herd the Gaza population into a confined camp on barren land.
International and Human Rights Reactions: Alarm and Outrage
The plan has drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations and legal experts. Michael Sfard, an Israeli human rights lawyer, condemned the plan as “an operational plan for a crime against humanity.” He described it as a population transfer aimed at deporting Palestinians outside Gaza, calling the euphemistic term “voluntary departure” misleading given the coercive environment Palestinians face.
The United Nations has also warned that the forcible transfer or deportation of an occupied population is strictly prohibited under international humanitarian law and is considered tantamount to ethnic cleansing. The plan’s implications have raised fears of a new chapter of displacement and suffering for Palestinians already enduring a prolonged blockade and military assaults.
Palestinian officials, including representatives of the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, have yet to issue an official response, but the broader Palestinian community and activists have expressed profound alarm and rejection of the plan. Human rights groups emphasize that confining millions of people in a restricted camp with no freedom of movement would constitute a grave violation of human rights.
The U.S. Role and Broader Geopolitical Context
The plan reportedly aligns with discussions involving the United States, where President Donald Trump has proposed a vision for post-war Gaza management. This includes the U.S. taking over Gaza and facilitating the permanent resettlement of Palestinians elsewhere. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed support for this vision, stating that Palestinians should have the choice to stay or leave, with Israel working closely with the U.S. to find countries willing to host displaced Palestinians.
Separately, a U.S.-backed aid group proposed the establishment of “Humanitarian Transit Areas” within Gaza and possibly beyond, designed as large-scale facilities where Palestinians could temporarily stay, undergo deradicalization, and prepare for relocation if they choose. This $2 billion initiative, which has been discussed at the White House, aims to supplant Hamas’s authority in Gaza but has been met with skepticism and concern from humanitarian experts who question the voluntariness of such displacement under ongoing bombardment and blockade conditions.
Implications for Gaza’s Population and Humanitarian Crisis
The Gaza Strip has been under a severe blockade for nearly two months, with no food or medical supplies reaching its 2.3 million residents. The Israeli military’s ground campaign has seized large swathes of land and ordered evacuations from buffer zones, including Rafah, which makes up about 20 percent of Gaza’s territory. The blockade and military operations have created a dire humanitarian crisis, with residents facing starvation, lack of medical care, and displacement.
The proposed camp in Rafah would effectively confine the entire Gaza population to a small, controlled area, severely restricting their freedom of movement and access to essential services. Critics argue that such a plan would institutionalize the siege and displacement, making Gaza a “concentration camp” as described by some human rights advocates.
Voices from the Ground and the International Community
Residents who remain in or near Rafah describe the area as a “dead zone,” with constant explosions and military presence making life unbearable. The destruction of homes and infrastructure has left thousands homeless and dependent on aid that is difficult to deliver due to ongoing military operations.
Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have documented systematic discrimination and violations against Palestinians by Israeli authorities, framing these actions within a broader context of apartheid and persecution. The forced relocation plan is seen as a continuation of policies that privilege Jewish Israelis while oppressing Palestinians.
A Plan Met with Global Condemnation and Uncertainty
Israel’s defense minister’s plan to build a camp on the ruins of Rafah to confine Gaza’s entire population has ignited international alarm. Human rights activists and legal experts warn that it violates international law and amounts to ethnic cleansing. Palestinians face the prospect of being uprooted once again, confined to a camp with no freedom to leave, while the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens.
The involvement of the United States in discussions about Gaza’s future adds complexity to the situation, raising questions about the fate of millions of Palestinians and the prospects for peace and justice in the region. As the ceasefire talks continue, the world watches closely, aware that the decisions made now will have profound and lasting consequences for Gaza’s people.