Israel Plans Gaza Humanitarian City to Relocate 600,000 Palestinians

Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, has proposed relocating up to 600,000 Palestinians into a closed-off 'humanitarian city' in the ruins of Rafah, Gaza, as part of a broader plan to separate civilians from Hamas and eventually facilitate their emigration. This plan, backed by US President Donald Trump, has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights groups, legal experts, and Israeli reservists, who argue it amounts to ethnic cleansing and could constitute crimes against humanity. The Israeli military, including its chief of staff, has publicly opposed the plan, stating that forcibly moving civilians is not part of their war objectives and warning it could violate international law. The proposal involves strict security screenings and restrictions on leaving the designated area, effectively confining Gaza's population within a militarized camp-like zone. Critics emphasize that labeling the plan as humanitarian is misleading, as the living conditions would be harsh and the relocation coercive, raising fears of a mass forced displacement without guarantees of return. The controversy highlights a significant rift between Israel's political leadership and military command amid ongoing conflict with Hamas and efforts to negotiate a ceasefire.