Israel Proposes Gaza Population Transfer to Rafah Camp, Drawing Global Condemnation
Israel’s defense minister has directed the military to draft a plan to relocate the entire civilian population of Gaza over 2.1 million people into a designated camp in the southern city of Rafah. Israeli media reports say the move would begin with about 600,000 people and expand during a proposed 60-day ceasefire period currently under negotiation between Israel and Hamas.
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Monday that the envisioned camp, labeled a “humanitarian city,” would house civilians following individual security screenings to confirm no affiliation with Hamas. He stated that individuals allowed into the area would not be permitted to leave once relocated.
“If conditions allow, construction will begin during the ceasefire window,” Katz said.
The plan has drawn immediate and widespread criticism. One Israeli legal expert described it as “an operational plan for a crime against humanity,” calling it a deliberate strategy to displace the population in preparation for possible expulsion from Gaza.
The United Nations has repeatedly warned that the forced transfer of a civilian population from an occupied territory violates international law and constitutes what it defines as ethnic cleansing.
The Palestinian Authority and Hamas have not yet responded to the relocation plan. However, the backlash has deepened concern among Palestinians about a repeat of the 1948 Nakba, when hundreds of thousands were forced from their homes during the creation of Israel. Many of those displaced settled in Gaza, and their descendants now account for a majority of the territory’s population.
Speaking Monday from the White House, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorsed a separate proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump that calls for resettling Gaza’s population in other countries. “If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave,” Netanyahu said. “We’re working with the United States to identify countries that can offer Palestinians a better future.”
Trump said talks with regional partners have shown “great cooperation” and expressed optimism about post-war arrangements.
In March, Arab nations formally rejected any plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza. They instead backed an Egyptian-led $53 billion initiative aimed at rebuilding Gaza while keeping its residents in place. The statement called any relocation “a gross violation of international law, a crime against humanity, and ethnic cleansing.”
The Palestinian leadership, including Hamas, endorsed the Egyptian reconstruction plan. Israel and the U.S. dismissed it, claiming it failed to account for the presence of Hamas and the group’s ongoing threat to Israeli security.
The war in Gaza began after Hamas launched an unprecedented assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and capturing 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. In response, Israel launched a military campaign aimed at eliminating Hamas from the strip.
Since the start of the war, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza reports that over 57,500 Palestinians have been killed. More than 90% of homes across the territory are believed to be damaged or destroyed, with critical infrastructure including hospitals, water systems, and power supplies either collapsed or nonfunctional. Food, medicine, fuel, and shelter remain in short supply.
Multiple rounds of ceasefire talks have so far failed to produce a breakthrough. As of Monday, negotiations continued without an agreement. President Trump remains optimistic, saying a deal is “going along very well,” although no final settlement has been reached.
With mass displacement, severe shortages, and international scrutiny intensifying, the future for Gaza’s civilian population remains uncertain as plans for forced relocation move forward.
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