Israel plans to confine all Palestinians in Gaza to a closed city
- Israel Defense Minister Israel Katz instructed the military to draft plans to establish a closed humanitarian city in Rafah for displaced Palestinians.
- Katz's plan involves restricting movement for residents once they enter, emphasizing a goal of voluntary emigration to other countries.
- Human rights groups condemned the proposal, labeling it a serious violation of international law amid fears of humanitarian crises.
On July 8, 2025, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced plans to relocate all Palestinians in the Gaza Strip into what he referred to as a "humanitarian city" in the southern part, specifically near Rafah. The initiative aims to manage the large population of displaced individuals living in precarious conditions in makeshift camps. Katz has proposed that once displaced residents enter this camp, they would be unable to leave, with the expectation that this would encourage emigration to other countries, fulfilling a long-term aspiration for many in the Israeli government. Details about this plan have received harsh criticism from various human rights groups, which argue that it represents a violation of international law and adds to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. Katz's proposal suggests that the area would be secured from a distance by the Israel Defense Forces, allowing international organizations to manage the zone, although the viability of this approach remains contested by many due to past controversies involving such organizations. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised this emigration strategy, stating that Israel and the U.S. are diligently working to find third-party countries willing to accept displaced Palestinians. His remarks during a dinner with President Donald Trump emphasized a cooperative effort to realize the president's vision for Gaza, indicating a strong governmental push to implement these migration plans in the near future. However, skepticism exists regarding the practical execution of this plan as there are currently no countries publicly committed to accepting displaced Gazans. International reactions have included outright rejection of the forced displacement by countries such as the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, revealing significant opposition to this strategy on the global stage. The combination of regional tensions, humanitarian issues, and the potential for significant international backlash foreshadow complex implications for future Israeli-Palestinian relations and the humanitarian landscape in Gaza.