Camilla Jessen
Israel’s proposal for a walled-off zone in Gaza has sparked fierce backlash.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has strongly criticized a proposed plan to create a so-called “humanitarian city” in southern Gaza, warning that it could amount to ethnic cleansing and comparing it to a “concentration camp.”
In comments made to The Guardian and cited by CNN and Digi24, Olmert condemned the idea of relocating Gaza’s population into a fenced zone where people would be barred from leaving.
“It’s a concentration camp. I’m sorry,” Olmert said. “If they are deported to the new ‘humanitarian city,’ then you can say that this is part of ethnic cleansing.”
Israeli Government Pushes Forward
The proposed zone, which would be built on the ruins of the southern Gaza city of Rafah, is part of a broader plan announced by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz.
He said last week that the Israeli military had been instructed to move forward with the project, which aims to hold the entire population of Gaza.
Once inside, Palestinians would not be allowed to leave the area, according to Katz. He also stated that Israel intends to pursue a wider emigration plan for Gaza’s population.
“We are evacuating civilians. Hamas is blocking them. He [Olmert] calls this a war crime?” the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said in response to Olmert’s criticism.
Sharp Political Reactions
Olmert’s remarks triggered a fierce backlash from the current Israeli leadership.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office dismissed the former leader as “a convicted felon who dishonors Israel” on CNN.
Olmert served 16 months in prison following a conviction on corruption charges and was released in 2017. Despite his criminal record, Olmert has remained outspoken on Israeli policy, particularly regarding Gaza.
In May, he told CNN that he could no longer defend Israel against accusations of war crimes, citing the government’s conduct during the conflict.
“What is it if not a war crime?” he said at the time.
Civilian Displacement
The Palestinian Ministry of Health reports that more than 58,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war.
Human rights groups and legal experts are warning that the planned zone could breach international law.
Michael Sfard, an Israeli human rights lawyer, told CNN last week that Katz’s proposal would constitute a forcible population transfer and possibly prepare the ground for deportation — both of which, he emphasized, are considered war crimes under international law.
“When they build a camp where they intend to ‘cleanse’ more than half of Gaza,” Olmert said, “then the inevitable understanding of their strategy is not to save the Palestinians. It is to deport them, push them and throw them.”
Internal Political Pressure
Yair Lapid, leader of Israel’s opposition, has also criticized the plan.
In a social media post, he accused Netanyahu of allowing his far-right coalition partners to “run wild with extreme fantasies” to maintain political support.
He called for an end to the war and for the return of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
While the humanitarian zone plan was reportedly discussed in a meeting between Katz and Netanyahu on Sunday, Israeli media have reported that the proposed construction would take months and cost billions of dollars.
In response, a source familiar with the matter told CNN that Netanyahu had demanded a faster and cheaper version of the plan.
