Israel Plans Gaza Relocation, Demolishes Thousands in Rafah

Photo: AFP

In recent months, Israel has sharply increased its demolition operations in Rafah, which is a city in southern Gaza. According to Al Jazeera’s Sanad investigation team, many more buildings have been destroyed since April this year. People around the world are worried about what this means for the lives of Palestinians living there.

Huge Rise in Demolished Buildings

Satellite pictures up to July 4, 2025, show that nearly 28,600 buildings in Rafah have been demolished. Back in April 2025, there were about 15,800 demolished buildings. This means that 12,800 buildings were destroyed just in the last three months.

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The demolitions became faster after Israel began a new military push into Rafah in late March 2025. Many families have lost their homes and are now forced to live in overcrowded shelters or on the streets.

Plans to Move 600,000 People

Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, has announced a plan to move 600,000 people into what they are calling a new “humanitarian city” in Rafah. He said this will happen within 60 days if there is a ceasefire deal.

But experts and observers say this area would actually become like a “concentration camp”. They fear that this plan will eventually force all of Gaza’s more than 2 million people to relocate to Rafah.

What is a Humanitarian City?

Katz described it as a place where people will get aid and live safely. But many believe it is just a way to keep Palestinians in one place so they can be controlled easily. Israeli legal experts have called this idea a possible “war crime” under international law.

A proposal seen by Reuters mentioned that people would temporarily stay in this area to ‘deradicalise, reintegrate and prepare to relocate if they wish to do so.’ This has raised serious concerns about the future of Palestinians in Gaza.

UN’s Warning on Forced Displacement

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), said that this plan would create “massive concentration camps” at Gaza’s border with Egypt. He added that Palestinians would be deprived of their homeland and any hope for a better future.

Israeli political expert Ori Goldberg told Al Jazeera that the plan is “a crime against humanity”, and it is not right to put people in a locked city where they can enter but not leave.

Neighbourhoods in Ruins

Rafah used to be home to about 275,000 people. Now it lies mostly in ruins. Many areas, such as Al-Zohour, Al-Jnaina, and Tal as-Sultan neighbourhoods, have been heavily destroyed since Israel’s attacks began in March 2025.

Schools and Hospitals – Destroyed or Spared?

Israel’s attacks have destroyed six educational facilities, including some in Tal as-Sultan. But interestingly, 40 other schools and one university have not been damaged. Eight medical centres also remain standing.

Experts say this is not by chance. These buildings might be spared because Israel wants to use them as shelters for the people it plans to move to Rafah.

Why Are These Buildings Spared?

These schools and hospitals are already serving as shelters for thousands of displaced people. According to UNRWA, by January 2024, around 1.4 million people were staying in 154 UN facilities, which include schools and health centres. Some of these shelters hold more than 12,000 people, four times their capacity.

By July 2025, 1.9 million people remain displaced in Gaza, which is almost the entire population.

Two Phases of Destruction

Satellite pictures from May 2024 to May 2025 show that Israel has carried out demolitions in two phases:

1. Phase One began in May 2024. Israel launched military attacks and destroyed buildings in eastern and parts of western Rafah.

2. Phase Two started in April 2025. This phase involves demolishing remaining houses, clearing land, and building roads to help aid centres operate.

What Do Experts Say?

Daniel Levy, a British Israeli analyst, said that Israel is trying to remove as many Palestinians as possible. He called it a plan of “social-demographic engineering” to move people out of their lands.

The aid distribution is now controlled by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which is run by US contractors guarded by Israeli troops. Levy says this is part of the plan to displace people.

Ceasefire Talks and Netanyahu’s Views

Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, met US President Donald Trump to discuss a possible ceasefire. The proposed deal includes:

• Release of 10 living and 18 dead Israeli captives held by Hamas.

• A 60-day ceasefire.

• More humanitarian aid for Gaza.

• Release of many Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

However, Netanyahu does not want Hamas to stay in power. He said, “We are determined to bring back all captives and ensure Gaza will not threaten Israel again. Hamas will not be there.”

Will the Ceasefire Happen?

Hamas gave a “positive” response to the proposal but had concerns about the temporary nature of the ceasefire and demanded changes. Israel called Hamas’s demands “unacceptable.”

Experts believe the talks may only lead to a temporary ceasefire and that Netanyahu does not want the war to end fully.

The End Goal – Ethnic Cleansing?

Some experts like Gideon Levy from Haaretz newspaper think the final aim is ethnic cleansing, which means removing an entire group of people from their land. He said that if the world stays silent and the US allows it, the plan might succeed.

Israel plans to control the Morag Corridor, which is just north of Rafah, to isolate Rafah completely. This will make it easier to keep people trapped in the area.

Conclusion: The Future of Gaza’s People

The situation in Gaza remains tense and dangerous. Many fear that if Israel’s plan continues, Palestinians may lose their homeland forever and live in overcrowded camps with no rights or freedom. The world watches as millions of innocent people face uncertainty, destruction, and the loss of their future.