Israel may build camp to house Palestinians in Rafah

Israel has cleared land in southern Gaza to build a camp for Palestinians, which may include surveillance and facial-recognition systems at its entrance, retired Brig.-Gen. (res.) Amir Avivi told Reuters in an interview. A public official denied reports that Turkish and Qatari soldiers will be sent into Gaza and rejected claims that a Palestinian state will be established there, saying neither has happened nor will happen. Yonah Jeremy Bob contributed to the report. Summary: - Yigal Avivi, founder of the Israel Defense and Security Forum (which represents many Israeli reservists), said Israel is planning a large, organized camp in Rafah — in an area cleared of Hamas tunnels — to house Palestinians who choose to leave Gaza for Egypt or remain there. Entry/exit would be tracked by Israeli personnel and could involve ID checks and facial recognition. Avivi does not speak for the IDF; the military and Prime Minister’s Office declined to comment. - The proposal is linked to a "limited reopening" of the Rafah crossing and U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to begin Gaza reconstruction from Rafah in exchange for Hamas disarmament. Reuters sources say Israel wants to ensure more Palestinians leave Gaza than enter. - Israeli officials, including past statements reported from Defense Minister Israel Katz, have discussed creating a humanitarian area in Rafah able to host hundreds of thousands (reports suggested at least 600,000) and free of Hamas influence; Hamas calls such plans a cover for forced displacement. - Avivi said the IDF is prepared to resume offensive operations if Hamas refuses to disarm. Ministers including Avi Dichter and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned disarmament must precede reconstruction and said Israel must be ready to use force if necessary; Netanyahu echoed Trump that disarming Gaza will be achieved "the easy way or the hard way." - Hamas has repeatedly rejected disarmament; mediators have not presented detailed proposals, while U.S. documents call for immediate decommissioning of heavy weapons and sector-based registration/decommissioning of personal arms, with an interim police force to guarantee security. A U.S. official said disarmament might be tied to some form of amnesty for Hamas members.