Israel Unveils Plan to Confine Gaza Palestinians in New Camp, Raising Fears of Forced Displacement and War Crimes
Israel’s Defence Minister has laid out a controversial plan to forcibly relocate the entire Palestinian population of Gaza into a newly established camp on the ruins of Rafah, a scheme condemned by legal experts as a potential blueprint for crimes against humanity. The proposal, detailed in reports by Haaretz newspaper, envisions a heavily controlled “humanitarian city” where Palestinians would undergo “security screening” and be barred from leaving.
The plan, announced by Israel Katz, represents a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict and raises profound questions about the future of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents. It comes as diplomatic efforts intensify to secure a ceasefire in the 21-month war, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu currently in Washington D.C. for meetings with Donald Trump.
Initially, the camp would accommodate approximately 600,000 Palestinians, primarily those currently displaced in the al-Mawasi area. However, Katz indicated the ultimate goal is to house the entire population of Gaza within the confines of this designated zone, simultaneously pursuing what he termed “the emigration plan, which will happen.” This echoes recent rhetoric from Trump, who earlier this year suggested Palestinians should leave Gaza to “clean out” the strip, a sentiment enthusiastically embraced by several Israeli politicians.
The legality of Katz’s scheme is being fiercely challenged. Michael Sfard, a leading Israeli human rights lawyer, unequivocally labeled the plan “an operational plan for a crime against humanity.” He explained that the proposed population transfer, coupled with the lack of freedom of movement, constitutes a clear violation of international law. “When you drive someone out of their homeland that would be a war crime… If it’s done on a massive scale like he plans, it becomes a crime against humanity,” Sfard stated.
He further emphasized the coercive environment in Gaza renders any purported “voluntary” departure legally untenable. Despite government claims of voluntary relocation, Sfard argued that the immense pressure faced by Palestinians negates any possibility of genuine consent.
The Defence Minister’s announcement directly contradicts earlier statements from Israel’s military chief, who, in a letter, asserted that Palestinian displacement was solely for their protection. This discrepancy was highlighted by Prof. Amos Goldberg, a historian of the Holocaust at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who described Katz’s plan as a clear intention for the “ethnic cleansing of Gaza” and the creation of “a concentration camp or a transit camp for Palestinians before they expel them.”
Goldberg underscored the stark contrast between the proposed camp and a functioning city. “A city is a place where you have possibilities of work… freedom of movement… hospitals, schools, universities and offices. This is not what they have in mind. It will not be a livable place.” He also raised concerns about the fate of Palestinians who might resist relocation, questioning what measures would be taken against those who refuse to comply with Israeli orders.
The plan’s origins extend beyond Israel’s borders. Reports indicate that plans for “humanitarian transit areas” – camps intended to house Palestinians both within and potentially outside Gaza – were previously presented to the Trump administration and discussed within the White House. A $2 billion proposal, spearheaded by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), was reportedly circulated, though GHF has since denied submitting the plan and disavowed the authenticity of related slides.
Legal challenges to the potential displacement are already underway. Sfard is representing reservists who have petitioned Israel’s courts to revoke commands to “mobilise and concentrate” the Gazan population and to prohibit any deportation plans. However, the Defence Minister indicated that work on the “humanitarian city” could commence even during a ceasefire, and that efforts are underway to identify countries willing to “take in” Palestinians.
The unfolding situation underscores the increasingly precarious position of Palestinians in Gaza and raises urgent concerns about the potential for further humanitarian catastrophe. The international community faces mounting pressure to intervene and prevent what many fear will be a deliberate and systematic violation of international law.
