Israeli defence minister plans to move Gaza's population to camp in Rafah

Israel's defence minister, Israel Katz, has announced a controversial plan to move all Palestinians living in Gaza into a camp in the southern part of the territory, according to reports from Israeli media. Katz explained that he wants to create a 'humanitarian city' on the ruins of Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, to initially house about 600,000 people. Eventually, the plan is to relocate the entire population of Gaza, which is around 2. 1 million people, into this camp. Before entering, people would have to go through security checks to make sure they are not members of Hamas, the group that Israel is fighting. Once inside, they would not be allowed to leave. Katz said that if a 60-day ceasefire is agreed upon, construction of the camp could begin during that time.

This plan has been met with strong criticism. An Israeli human rights lawyer called it an 'operational plan for a crime against humanity. ' The United Nations has also warned that forcing people to move from their homes is strictly forbidden under international law and is considered a form of ethnic cleansing. So far, there has been no official response from the Palestinian Authority or Hamas about this plan.

Later on the same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US President Donald Trump at the White House. During their meeting, they discussed what should happen in Gaza after the war. President Trump suggested that the United States could help manage Gaza after the conflict and help resettle its population in other countries if they choose to leave. Netanyahu said that people should have the freedom to decide whether to stay or leave, and that the US and Israel are working together to find countries willing to accept Palestinians who want to leave Gaza. Trump added that neighboring countries have been cooperating with this idea and that he is hopeful something positive will come from these efforts.

In March, Arab countries proposed a different plan. They offered $53 billion to help rebuild Gaza and allow Palestinians to stay in their homes. These countries strongly rejected any idea of forcing Palestinians to leave, calling it a violation of international law and a crime against humanity. The Palestinian Authority and Hamas supported this plan, but the US and Israel said it did not address the realities on the ground in Gaza.

Many Palestinians are afraid that they will be forced to leave their homes forever, similar to what happened in 1948 when Israel was created. At that time, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forced to leave their homes and became refugees. Today, most people living in Gaza are descendants of those refugees. There are also many Palestinian refugees living in the West Bank, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon.

The current conflict in Gaza began after Hamas launched a major attack on Israel in October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, Israel started a military campaign to destroy Hamas. Since then, more than 57,500 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the health ministry run by Hamas. Most of Gaza's population has been displaced multiple times, and more than 90 percent of homes are estimated to be damaged or destroyed. The healthcare system, water supply, and sanitation have collapsed, and there are severe shortages of food, fuel, medicine, and shelter.

The situation in Gaza remains extremely difficult, with many people unsure about their future. While some leaders are trying to find ways to help Palestinians stay in their homes, others are making plans to move them. The fate of Gaza's people is still uncertain, and the world is watching closely to see what will happen next.