Israel Plans Gaza 'Humanitarian City' Amid Ethnic Cleansing Allegations

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has characterized Israel's plan to build a "humanitarian city" on the ruins of Rafah in Gaza as a concentration camp, warning that forcibly relocating Palestinians there could amount to ethnic cleansing. The plan, supported by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, envisions moving hundreds of thousands of Gaza civilians into this camp, where they would be confined and unable to leave freely. Olmert stressed that while Israel's current military campaign is not ethnic cleansing, the creation of this camp would mark a significant escalation and likely be viewed as such. Critics question the feasibility and humanitarian aspects of housing up to a million people in a devastated area with insufficient infrastructure, healthcare, and basic services. This move comes amid ongoing conflict and destruction in Gaza, which some analysts describe as collective punishment or even genocide, raising concerns about the future of the Palestinian population. Additionally, disparities persist within Israel, where Arab communities face greater exposure to rocket attacks due to inadequate bomb shelter infrastructure compared to Jewish areas, highlighting broader issues of planning discrimination.