Israel eyes Rafah concentration camp for displaced Palestinians, could cost $4bn

Israeli officials estimate that building a so-called “humanitarian city” in Rafah could cost between $2.7bn and $4bn, according to Israeli media outlet YnetNews. The Israeli government is reportedly prepared to cover nearly all upfront costs if the project moves forward.

The proposed concentration camp which would hold up to 500,000 displaced Palestinians, has been widely denounced by rights groups as a form of forced displacement and ethnic cleansing. Critics say the plan amounts to corralling civilians into a zone they would be barred from leaving, with no return to northern Gaza allowed.

Internal opposition has also emerged within Israel’s security establishment. The Israeli army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has pushed back strongly against the idea in cabinet meetings, arguing it risks draining critical military resources. 

Despite the push, some officials remain doubtful. “There’s almost no chance this actually materialises. Very few believe the city will ever be built,” one source involved in the planning told 

Israeli authorities hope Gulf countries—including Saudi Arabia and the UAE—will eventually reimburse the costs.