Wed Jul 16 22:52:30 UTC 2025: **Israel Faces Backlash Over Proposed “Humanitarian City” for Palestinians in Gaza**
**Rafah, Gaza Strip** – The Israeli government is advancing with a controversial plan to construct a designated area for Palestinians displaced by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Dubbed a “humanitarian city” by proponents, the proposal has drawn sharp criticism, with some describing it as a “concentration camp.”
The plan, initially suggested by Defence Minister Israel Katz, envisions holding 600,000 Palestinians, eventually expanding to accommodate Gaza’s entire pre-war population of 2.2 million. Inside the city, overseen by international forces without Hamas presence, Palestinians would be restricted from returning to other parts of Gaza and encouraged to “voluntarily emigrate” abroad.
The proposal has been met with widespread condemnation. Former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert labelled it a “concentration camp,” while legal experts have deemed it illegal. Even within the Israeli military, officials have reportedly called the plan “unworkable.”
International reactions have been equally critical. A British minister expressed being “appalled,” while Austria and Germany voiced “concern.” The United Nations firmly opposes the idea.
Despite the outcry, Israeli government members defend the plan, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly seeking a faster and cheaper implementation. An Al Jazeera investigation suggests increased demolitions in Rafah, possibly preparing for the “humanitarian city’s” construction.
Critics argue the plan aligns with hardline settler groups’ long-held ambition to depopulate Gaza and amounts to ethnic cleansing. Political analyst Nimrod Flashenberg suggests the plan’s appeal lies in security considerations and the creation of an “ethnic cleansing terminal” that makes it easier to move people elsewhere.
Aida Touma-Suleiman, a member of the Israeli parliament, condemned the plan as inhumane and dangerous, questioning how the first 600,000 people could be imprisoned without leading to some kind of massacre.
Military lawyers have reportedly raised concerns that the plan might lead to accusations of forced displacement, which is illegal.
According to the UN, at least 1.9 million people in Gaza, about 90 percent of the pre-war population, have been displaced as a result of Israeli attacks. Amnesty International said that Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war.
Critics urge the international community to exert leverage on Israel to halt the plan, warning that inaction will only embolden its proponents.
First Piper 