The Israeli defence minister recently announced plans to relocate Gazans to Rafah, already devastated by war. The zone will hold approximately 600,000 people and will be closely monitored by the IOF. Once Palestinians undergo security screening and enter, they will not be allowed to leave. While ceasefire negotiations continue, it is unclear whether the goal is to rebuild Gaza or to relocate its population. Donald Trump earlier expressed interest in turning Gaza into the ‘Riviera of the Middle East’, and Israeli officials have supported resettling Gaza with Israeli settlers. These factors suggest a broader displacement strategy. Forcefully moving civilians during war is a war crime. International institutions like the ICJ must act before another grave violation occurs.
Hamza Mustafa Soomro
Shikarpur