Israel Advances Plans for Gaza Detention Camp Amid Widespread Criticism

Israel is advancing plans to construct a so-called "humanitarian city" on the ruins of Rafah in southern Gaza, intended to house up to 600,000 displaced Palestinians initially, with the potential to expand for the entire pre-war Gaza population of 2.2 million. The plan, proposed by Defence Minister Israel Katz, involves relocating Palestinians from northern Gaza to this camp-like area, where they would be restricted from leaving except for emigration encouraged by Israeli authorities. This initiative has been heavily condemned domestically and internationally, with critics labeling it a "concentration camp" and a form of ethnic cleansing; Israeli military officials have also expressed doubts about its feasibility. The Arab League and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) have strongly denounced the plan, warning it amounts to mass detention and forced displacement under harsh conditions, while calling for urgent international intervention and a ceasefire. Israeli government officials defend the plan as necessary, but it faces widespread opposition amid concerns over humanitarian and legal violations and the broader implications for Gaza's future. The situation underlines the escalating tensions and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including the collapse of essential services and mounting international calls for a resolution.