Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced a plan to establish a 'humanitarian city' on the ruins of Rafah, initially housing 600,000 Palestinians before moving Gaza's entire two million population there, with no allowance for them to leave. Katz claims the plan aims to weaken Hamas, but it has been widely condemned by Palestinians and human rights activists as a violation of international law, potentially amounting to ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. The UN warns against forcible transfer of civilian populations. The plan is possibly linked to a $2 billion proposal by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) for 'Humanitarian Transit Areas,' though GHF denies submitting it. U.S. President Donald Trump also discussed relocating Palestinians from Gaza with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The conflict, triggered by Hamas's Oct 7, 2023 attack, has killed over 57,500 Palestinians and displaced most of Gaza's population.
Palestinians, human rights activists slam Israeli defence minister's plan to build camp on Rafah's ruins
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz announced a plan to establish a 'humanitarian city' on the ruins of Rafah, initially housing 600,000 Palestinians before moving Gaza's entire two million population there, with no allowance for them to leave. Katz claims the plan aims to weaken Hamas, but it has been widely condemned by Palestinians and human rights activists as a violation of international law, potentially amounting to ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. The UN warns against forcible transfer of civilian populations. The plan is possibly linked to a $2 billion proposal by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) for 'Humanitarian Transit Areas,' though GHF denies submitting it. U.S. President Donald Trump also discussed relocating Palestinians from Gaza with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The conflict, triggered by Hamas's Oct 7, 2023 attack, has killed over 57,500 Palestinians and displaced most of Gaza's population.
Trending- 1 Oct. 7, 2023: Hamas-led fighters attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
- 2 Since Oct. 7, 2023: Israel's military assault on Gaza has killed over 57,500 Palestinians and razed much of the territory, displacing most Palestinians multiple times.
- 3 After Feb. 11 (2025): A proposal for 'Humanitarian Transit Areas' by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) was created.
- 4 March (2025): Arab leaders adopted a $53-billion US reconstruction alternative for Gaza.
- 5 Earlier this year (2025): U.S. President Donald Trump floated relocating Palestinians and turning the Gaza Strip into the 'Riviera of the Middle East.'
- 6 Monday (July 7, 2025): Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz told reporters he ordered the Israeli military to prepare for moving all Palestinians in Gaza into a 'humanitarian city' on the ruins of Rafah.
- 7 Monday (July 7, 2025): Reuters reported on a $2-billion US plan, bearing the name of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), describing 'Humanitarian Transit Areas.'
- 8 Monday (July 7, 2025): U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, indicating progress on relocating Palestinians out of Gaza.
- 9 Tuesday (July 8, 2025): Critics, including Palestinians Nidal Bliha, Majed Zaher, and Samar Al-Basyouni, expressed alarm and repudiated Katz's plan.
- Widespread condemnation
- potential violation of international law
- risk of ethnic cleansing
- further displacement of Palestinians
- humanitarian crisis
- ongoing conflict