Ex-PM Olmert Criticizes Israeli Gaza ‘Humanitarian City’ Plan as ‘Concentration Camp’

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz proposed building a “humanitarian city” in southern Gaza to relocate over 600,000 Palestinians, eventually encompassing the entire population of Gaza. This plan, centered on Rafah, would confine residents who would be screened before entry and barred from leaving, while international organizations provide aid and the Israeli military secures the area remotely. The proposal has drawn sharp criticism from former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who likens it to a Nazi concentration camp and calls it a form of ethnic cleansing with harmful security, political, and logistical implications. Additionally, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz condemned the plan and broader Israeli actions in Gaza as unacceptable, emphasizing the need for increased humanitarian aid and a diplomatic resolution, including a two-state solution. Israeli military leaders have warned that the plan could take months to implement and might jeopardize ongoing hostage negotiations and ceasefire talks. Both domestic and international voices express concern that the plan will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis rather than alleviate it.