Cairo: The General Secretariat of the Arab League issued a strongly worded statement condemning recently circulated Israeli plans to establish what it calls a “humanitarian city” in the southern Gaza Strip. The League described this plan as aiming to “confine” the Palestinians in a small camp, considering it to be neither humanitarian nor civil, but rather a new step toward “ethnic cleansing” and the reoccupation of the Strip.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the League affirmed that these plans reflect the “moral and ethical decline” of the Israeli authorities, noting that they may pave the way for the expansion of settlements in Gaza. The plan, revealed by Israeli media, includes transferring approximately 600,000 Palestinians from the Mawasi area to a camp in the area between the Philadelphi and Morag axes in the southern Gaza Strip. They will be subjected to strict security checks, without being allowed to leave the camp later.

The statement indicated: “This step is part of a policy of mass displacement and systematic isolation aimed at destroying the foundations of life in Gaza and preventing the return of Palestinians to their original areas.” The Arab League called on the international community to confront these “inhumane” plans, warning that they recall tragic events from the 20th century, such as forced displacement and ethnic cleansing.

It also called for a swift ceasefire agreement, accusing Israel of stalling and “putting a spoke in the wheel” to avoid committing to a de-escalation. The League affirmed its support for regional and international efforts, including the international conference scheduled to be held in Cairo in May 2026 to coordinate the reconstruction of Gaza.

The crisis surrounding the proposed Israeli plan to establish a camp in the southern Gaza Strip comes amid escalating regional tensions and the ongoing conflict in the Strip. The plan, revealed by Israeli media reports, aims to transfer approximately 600,000 Palestinians from the Mawasi area to a camp sandwiched between the Philadelphi and Morag axes in the southern Gaza Strip, under the pretext of establishing a “humanitarian city.”