An Israeli proposal to transfer Gaza residents to a so-called “humanitarian city” has come under fire, with critics describing it as, at best, a costly diversion and, at worst, a potential first step toward expelling Palestinians from their land.
Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz first revealed the plan during a briefing with journalists last Monday. The plan calls for the creation of a closed zone, from scratch, in the southern Gaza Strip during a potential 60-day truce in the ongoing war with Hamas, currently being negotiated in Qatar.
According to Katz, the area will initially accommodate approximately 600,000 displaced people from southern Gaza and will include four aid distribution centers run by international organizations.
Ultimately, the entire civilian population of Gaza, more than two million people, is expected to be transferred to the area.
However, critics of the proposal have questioned the feasibility and morality of the plan. The Israeli opposition leader pointed to its exorbitant cost, while an expert pointed to the lack of basic infrastructure necessary to accommodate such a large number of people.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) described the proposed facility as a “concentration camp,” while the UK’s Minister for the Middle East and North Africa said he was “shocked” by the idea.
