Israel’s defense minister has outlined a proposal to relocate all Palestinians in Gaza to a camp on the ruins of Rafah, a move legal experts and scholars say could amount to crimes against humanity.
According to a report from Haaretz, Israel Katz stated that he has instructed the military to prepare for the establishment of a camp, referred to as a "humanitarian zone," on the remains of Rafah. Palestinians would undergo security checks before entering and would not be permitted to leave once inside, Katz said during a briefing for reporters.
Katz added that Israeli forces would secure the perimeter of the site, initially moving about 600,000 displaced Palestinians—mostly from the al-Mawasi area—into the camp. The long-term goal, he said, would be to house Gaza’s entire population there as part of an "emigration plan" that Israel intends to carry out.
Earlier this year, discussions about large-scale displacement from Gaza gained traction among Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after former U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Palestinians should leave to "clean out" the territory.
Legal expert Michael Sfard, a prominent Israeli human rights lawyer, stated that Katz’s plan violates international law. The proposal also directly conflicts with statements from the Israeli military’s leadership, which had earlier claimed that displacing Palestinians within Gaza was solely for their safety.
"What was presented is an operational plan for a crime against humanity—nothing less than that," Sfard said. "This is about forcibly transferring people to the southern edge of Gaza in preparation for expulsion. While the government frames it as 'voluntary,' the conditions in Gaza make any departure under coercion a violation of international law."
Sfard further argued that forcibly displacing people on such a large scale would constitute a war crime or, in this context, a crime against humanity.
Katz’s announcement came shortly before Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, where he faces pressure to agree to a truce that could halt or pause the ongoing 21-month conflict. Katz noted that construction of the proposed camp could begin during a ceasefire, adding that Israel is seeking nations willing to accept displaced Palestinians.
Other officials, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have supported the establishment of Israeli settlements in Gaza. Previous discussions with the U.S. administration included plans labeled as "humanitarian transit zones," intended to accommodate displaced Palestinians either within or outside Gaza, according to an earlier Reuters report.
Read next
Bolivia Probes Ex-President Evo Morales for Suspected Involvement in 2009 Killings
The Bolivian attorney general has initiated an investigation into former leftist president Evo Morales, citing allegations of his involvement in the murder and torture of European nationals in 2009.
In 2009, police conducted a raid on a Santa Cruz hotel, resulting in the deaths of Eduardo Rózsa Flores, a Bolivian-
Argentina Closes Iguazu Falls Temporarily Due to El Niño-Induced Water Surge
Heavy rainfall driven by a potent El Niño weather pattern temporarily led Argentinian authorities to close tourist access to the renowned Iguazu Falls. The closure occurred due to concerns that rising water levels might cause the river to overflow its banks.
On Monday, national park officials implemented this precautionary measure
Mysterious Drones Strike Two Vessels Near Bulgarian Coast – Europe Live
Morning Update: Two Ships Targeted by Drones Off Bulgarian Coast
This morning, two ships in the Black Sea near Bulgaria were struck by drones of unknown origin. The attack led to the sinking of one vessel and initiated emergency rescue operations, as reported by Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev. Rescue