According to Al Jazeera, Israel has intensified its efforts to demolish buildings and level the ground in Rafah, southern Gaza, as part of a plan to relocate the entire population of Gaza there. Israel’s cunning strategy is to first gather approximately 600,000 Palestinians in Rafah, and then eventually move the entire 2.1 million population of Gaza to that area. Al Jazeera’s investigative journalism unit, citing UN satellite images, reported that the number of demolished buildings in Rafah had reached 28,600 by July 4th, an increase of about 12,800 from April 4th.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated on Monday that Palestinians relocated to Rafah would not be allowed to leave, and that during the proposed 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, construction of housing for the relocated population would begin in Rafah. While Katz said this plan would be implemented through international organizations rather than Israeli forces, he did not specify which organizations. The UN has repeatedly stated that forcibly relocating Gaza’s population to another area constitutes an act of ethnic cleansing against Palestinians.
Since Israel broke the ceasefire agreement and resumed attacks on Gaza on March 19th, they have targeted and destroyed essential service centers. However, Al Jazeera reported that many schools, universities, and health centers in Rafah have been left intact, suggesting this is part of Israel’s plan to relocate Gaza’s population there rather than mere coincidence. During a visit to the US, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again praised former President Donald Trump’s plan to take control of Gaza and relocate its population.
While Netanyahu made these statements, Hamas and Israel were engaged in ceasefire negotiations in Qatar. However, these talks have stalled due to Israel’s refusal to withdraw its forces from Gaza. Despite international calls to end the aggression in Gaza, Israel continues its campaign. Gaza health sources report that the death toll has risen to 58,000, while the Gaza Media Office states it may exceed 61,700, with the majority being innocent civilians and children.
