The United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has condemned Israel’s proposed relocation of Gaza’s entire population into a closed-off area under military watch, warning that the move amounts to large-scale forced displacement and could worsen an already catastrophic humanitarian situation.
The controversial initiative, presented by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, would involve constructing a fenced-off zone in the southern Gaza Strip, on the ruins of Rafah. The area, labeled a “humanitarian city” by Israeli officials, would initially accommodate around 600,000 displaced Palestinians, with plans to expand its capacity to house the entire population of the enclave—over 2 million people.
Residents placed in the zone would be screened to block entry to suspected Hamas fighters, and movement outside the area would be prohibited. Eventually, the displaced population may be permitted to “emigrate voluntarily,” Katz explained, describing the plan as a way to facilitate further military operations elsewhere in Gaza.
The proposal has sparked international outrage. “This is not a humanitarian solution. It is mass confinement under military control,” said Tamara Alrifai, UNRWA’s director of communications. “Calling it a ‘humanitarian city’ is a distortion of what humanitarianism actually means.”
UNRWA’s Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini added that instead of building what he called a “super-crowded camp,” efforts should focus on achieving a ceasefire, enabling full humanitarian access, freeing hostages, and reviving serious efforts toward a two-state solution.
Rights groups and analysts have also condemned the proposal, with some describing it as resembling an internment camp or a deliberate attempt at mass population removal. A Haaretz source claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is supportive of the plan and allegedly dismissed concerns over conditions in the zone, reportedly saying, “Give them Ben & Jerry’s, for all I care.”
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, launched in October 2023 in response to a deadly attack by Hamas, has led to over 57,000 reported Palestinian casualties—many of them civilians—according to Gaza’s health authorities. These figures have fueled growing international criticism and calls for accountability over alleged war crimes.
