The Israeli government’s plan to relocate the entire population of Gaza to a “humanitarian city” in the south has sparked widespread international concern and criticism. According to Israel‘s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, the plan would involve transferring 600,000 Palestinians to Rafah within 60 days of a ceasefire deal, with the eventual goal of relocating more than 2 million people. This proposal has been met with fierce opposition, with many viewing it as a form of ethnic cleansing.
The plan involves the creation of a “Humanitarian Transit Area” where Gaza residents would “temporarily reside, deradicalise, re-integrate and prepare to relocate if they wish to do so”. However, critics argue that this plan would lead to the displacement and suffering of millions of Palestinians, and would likely be implemented under the guise of a temporary measure. “This would de facto create massive concentration camps at the border with Egypt for the Palestinians, displaced over and over across generations,” said Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA).
Satellite imagery analysis has revealed the extent of the destruction in Gaza, with approximately 12,800 buildings destroyed between early April and early July 2025 alone. The demolition operations have been stepped up sharply, with the number of demolished buildings in Rafah rising to about 28,600, up from 15,800 on April 4, 2025. Israeli forces have directly targeted several institutions, including six educational facilities that have been destroyed.
However, some facilities have been spared, including 40 educational institutions and eight medical centres, which are now serving as critical humanitarian shelters for tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians. According to UNRWA’s latest report, 1.9 million people remain displaced in Gaza.
The latest ceasefire proposal, which provides for the release of 10 living and 18 dead captives in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire and humanitarian aid to Gaza, has been met with a mixed response from Hamas. While Hamas has given a “positive” response to the proposal, it has stressed its reservations about the temporary nature of the proposed truce and made some demands.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stressed his opposition to any deal that would ultimately leave Hamas in power in Gaza. “Twenty living hostages remain and 30 who are fallen. I am determined, we are determined, to bring back all of them,” he said. Gideon Levy, an Israeli columnist, believes that Netanyahu doesn’t want an end to the war and that the end game is ethnic cleansing.
The international community has expressed deep concern over the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Organizations have highlighted the dire conditions faced by civilians, including shortages of essential supplies and restricted access to humanitarian aid. Critics argue that the blockade and ongoing military actions exacerbate the suffering of the Palestinian population.
The US and other countries have shown solidarity with Israel’s right to defend itself, while others, such as Iran, have backed the Palestinian cause, portraying the attack as an act of self-defense. The conflict has underscored the deep-rooted divisions and differing geopolitical stances, illustrating the complexities of international diplomacy in the region.