In a scathing denunciation, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has condemned Israel’s proposal for a “humanitarian city” in Rafah as nothing more than an “open-air prison.” Tamara Alrafi, a spokesperson for UNRWA, expressed outrage over the plan, highlighting that it seeks to confine Gaza’s population—currently estimated at 600,000 and potentially the entire population—into a severely restricted area under constant Israeli surveillance.

Alrafi emphasized that labeling this initiative as humanitarian is an affront to the very principles of humanitarian aid. She described the situation in Gaza as “apocalyptic,” marked by relentless bombardments and a humanitarian crisis that has seen a dramatic collapse of aid efforts. With over 90% of Gazans displaced multiple times, the conditions are dire, and access to essential supplies has dwindled to almost nothing.

The proposed “humanitarian city” would be built on the ruins of Rafah, but Alrafi dismissed the feasibility of this plan, citing the extensive destruction and the overwhelming exhaustion of the population. She warned that the international humanitarian community is being sidelined in favor of a mechanism that exacerbates the suffering of Gazans, with reports of people being killed while waiting for food.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has rejected this plan, asserting the need for a humanitarian response grounded in established principles of neutrality and independence. Alrafi stressed the importance of experienced humanitarian organizations like the UN and the Red Cross in addressing the crisis, urging that undermining these systems only perpetuates the cycle of forced displacement.

As the situation deteriorates, the world watches closely, fearing that the worst is yet to come for the people of Gaza. The call for urgent action has never been more critical.