Israel has long discussed relocating Gaza’s population into a controlled zone in southern Gaza—what officials call a “humanitarian city,” first championed by Defense Minister Israel Katz and reportedly endorsed by Prime Minister Netanyahu
This is not a hypothetical or abstract concept. From the outset, terms like “concentrate” and “camps” were used in Israeli media and official statements, signaling deliberate intent to segregate and confine civilians even before critics applied the “concentration camp” label
The plan envisions constructing a closed zone in Rafah or Al‑Mawasi, initially housing ~600,000 displaced Palestinians, with potential expansion to all ~2.2 million Gazans
Civilians would undergo security screenings, be barred from leaving, and be pressured to emigrate—under tight Israeli control, though international aid agencies might run civilian services inside
From Israeli Political Figures
Yair Lapid, former Israeli PM, stated:
“I don’t prefer to describe a humanitarian city as a concentration camp, but if exiting it is prohibited, then it is a concentration camp”
Ehud Olmert, another former PM, plainly called it a concentration camp and a form of ethnic cleansin
From International and Legal Authorities
UNRWA’s Philippe Lazzarini described the plan as effectively creating massive concentration camps and a “second Nakba”
Human rights and international law experts warn that the plan meets the criteria for forcible transfer, collective punishment, and potentially war crimes due to restricted movement and coercive displacement