Israeli plan to relocate Gazans sparks global criticism
Defence Minister Israel Katz outlined the plan, which involves constructing a restricted zone in southern Gaza during a potential 60-day ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Hamas.
The proposed facility, intended to initially house 600,000 displaced Gazans, would eventually accommodate the entire population of over two million.
Katz stated that international organisations would manage aid distribution, with Israeli forces providing security 'from a distance.'
However, critics argue the plan lacks feasibility and raises ethical concerns.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned the estimated 10-20 billion shekel ($3-6 billion) cost, calling it a waste of public funds.
Security officials reportedly dismissed the idea as a 'gigantic tent city' that could lead to renewed Israeli military rule in Gaza.
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) likened the proposal to a 'concentration camp,' while Britain's Middle East minister said civilians must be allowed to return home.
Palestinian officials and Hamas rejected the plan, viewing it as a precursor to forced displacement.
Amnesty International warned that relocating Gazans within the territory or deporting them could constitute a war crime. Sixteen Israeli legal scholars echoed this concern in a letter to Katz.
Former military intelligence officer Michael Milshtein dismissed the proposal as unrealistic, citing the lack of infrastructure in the proposed zone.
'There is only sand and fields, nothing,' he said, questioning the long-term consequences of reoccupying Gaza. - AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Malay Mail
27 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
UN rights commission on Israel-Palestine to be renewed as all three members resign
GENEVA, July 15 — The three members of a United Nations commission charged with investigating human rights abuses in Israel and the Palestinian territories have resigned, saying it is time to renew the body, a UN spokesperson said yesterday. The three-person commission was created in 2021 and has been sharply criticized by Israel. South Africa's Navi Pillay, 83, who once headed the international tribunal for Rwanda, cited her age in a letter announcing her resignation. Australia's Chris Sidoti, 74, said in his letter it was an 'appropriate time' to renew the commission, while India's Miloon Kothari, in his late 60s, just said it had been 'an honour' to serve. Jurg Lauber, the head of the UN's Human Rights Council, asked the council's member states to propose new members by August 31. — AFP pic
The Star
33 minutes ago
- The Star
Controversial US envoy pick faces united backlash
PETALING JAYA: More voices are urging the Malaysian government to reject the appointment of American conservative figure Nick Adams (pic) as the US Ambassador to Malaysia. PKR Youth International Relations Bureau's Arief Izuadin said Adams' appointment is viewed with deep concern as his background is closely associated with extremist ideologies and divisive rhetoric, which contrast starkly with the values upheld by Malaysia's government and people. 'Such a rejection should not be misconstrued as hostility but rather seen as a necessary measure to safeguard the integrity of bilateral relations and ensure that diplomatic envoys can contribute constructively, in a manner aligned with the shared aspirations of both nations,' he said in a statement yesterday. He added that PKR Youth intends to submit a formal memorandum of protest to the United States Embassy urging the appointment of a more moderate, respected and globally-minded individual, who will embody the spirit of mutual respect and cooperation that has long underpinned US-Malaysia relations. Similarly, Selangor PAS Youth Chief Mohamed Sukri Omar said in a separate statement that the government, through Wisma Putra, should take a firm and clear stance against Adams' appointment to protect the sensitivities of Malaysians. He added that the government should uphold the dignity of a nation that consistently advocates for humanitarian issues, especially regarding Palestine. 'Nick Adams is not just a controversial figure. He openly spreads hatred towards Islam and supports the Zionist colonial regime without consideration. 'He once pressured a restaurant in the United States to fire a waitress simply for wearing a 'Free Palestine' pin. This is an inhumane act that demonstrates extreme and hateful attitudes towards the oppressed Palestinian people's struggle,' he said in a statement yesterday. He emphasised that Malaysia does not need a diplomatic representative who brings extremist and pro-Zionist ideologies, as it is a majority-Muslim country that upholds the principles of justice and solidarity with oppressed people. 'This appointment is an insult to the sensitivities of Malaysians. If the government remains silent or accepts this appointment, it will be seen as betraying the people's firm stance in supporting the Palestinian cause,' he said. Mohamed Sukri said Malaysia has the absolute right under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to reject any ambassadorial candidate deemed unsuitable or harmful to domestic harmony. He added that firm action is needed to defend the nation's image and stance and to reject any efforts to spread extremist pro-Zionist ideologies in the country. On Sunday, Amanah Youth international bureau chairman Mus'ab Muzahar said Adams' appointment is an insult to the country's dignity and foreign policy. 'Nick Adams is not a diplomat or a statesman. He is merely a far-right propagandist, a staunch Trump supporter and a vocal supporter of the Zionist Israeli regime. 'His rhetoric on social media is full of hatred, racism and Islamophobic sentiments, clearly deviating from the spirit of mature bilateral relations,' he said in a Facebook post.
Sinar Daily
an hour ago
- Sinar Daily
Over 700 Palestinians killed while collecting water in Gaza, say authorities
On Sunday, at least 12 people were killed, including eight children, by Israeli fire while waiting to collect water in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. 15 Jul 2025 08:48am A man draws water into a bottle from the tank of a destroyed mobile water cistern that was hit by Israeli bombardment in the Nuseirat camp for Palestinian refugees in the central Gaza Strip on July 14, 2025. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP) ISTANBUL - More than 700 Palestinians, mostly children, have been killed by Israeli army fire while collecting water since October 2023, Anadolu Ajansi reported, citing local authorities on Monday. "The Israeli occupation continues to wage a systematic and deliberate war of thirst against the Palestinian people in Gaza, in a flagrant violation of all international and humanitarian conventions,' Gaza's government media office said in a statement. A boy carries on his back a jerrycan filled with water drawn from the tank of a destroyed mobile water cistern that was hit by Israeli bombardment in the Nuseirat camp for Palestinian refugees in the central Gaza Strip on July 14, 2025. (Photo by Eyad BABA / AFP) The office accused Israeli forces of using water as a weapon of war "to deprive the Palestinians of their most basic rights.' It noted that Israeli army forces had committed 112 massacres against Gazans collecting water, killing more than 700 people, mostly children, since October 2023. On Sunday, at least 12 people were killed, including eight children, by Israeli fire while waiting to collect water in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The media office said that over 720 water wells were deliberately destroyed by the Israeli army in Gaza. "Attacks on water wells have deprived more than 1.25 million Palestinians of access to clean water,' it added. According to the statement, the Israeli army has obstructed the entry of 12 million litres of fuel monthly, the necessary amount to operate the minimum number of water wells, sewage stations, waste collection mechanisms, and other vital sectors in Gaza. "This has caused a complete paralysis in water and sewage networks and the spread of epidemics, mainly among the children,' it added. The media office called on the international community and human rights organisations to take immediate action to stop Israel's systematic and deliberate use of water as a war weapon and to allow the necessary amount of fuel and heavy equipment to reoperate water wells and drainage stations. Israel has kept Gaza crossings closed to food, medical, and humanitarian aid since March 2, deepening an already severe humanitarian crisis in the enclave, affecting Gaza's 2.4 million residents. The blockade has pushed the region into famine conditions, with many reported deaths due to hunger. Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 58,000 Palestinians so far, most of them women and children. The relentless bombardment has destroyed the enclave and led to food shortages and a spread of disease. - BERNAMA-ANADOLU
