Montreal, July 10, 2025 — Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is sounding the alarm over Israel’s latest plans to forcibly displace Palestinians in Gaza and concentrate them in a sealed-off zone at the southern border with Egypt, in preparation for deporting them to other countries. CJPME echoes the concerns of UN officials and Holocaust historians who warn that these plans amount to "massive concentration camps," and urge Prime Minister Carney to denounce this crime against humanity.
Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) is sounding the alarm over Israel’s latest plans to forcibly displace Palestinians in Gaza and concentrate them in a sealed-off zone at the southern border with Egypt, in preparation for deporting them to other countries. CJPME echoes the concerns of UN officials and Holocaust historians who warn that these plans amount to "massive concentration camps," and urge Prime Minister Carney to denounce this crime against humanity.
“History will not forget this moment. The world is watching a plan unfold before our eyes that could be one of the darkest chapters of the twenty-first century,” said Michael Bueckert, Acting President of CJPME. “The time to act is now, before these concentration camps are built, before another generation of Palestinians is driven from their land, before the crime becomes irreversible,” added Bueckert.
According to Israel’s own defence minister, Israel Katz, the military is preparing to forcibly transfer 600,000 Palestinians into a so-called “humanitarian city” in Rafah, a city that has already been devastated by Israel’s military assault. Once inside, Palestinians would be prevented from leaving, effectively locking them in a zone described by Israeli human rights lawyer Michael Sfard as part of a plan for “a crime against humanity.” Israel aims to eventually force the entire Gaza population into this camp in preparation for Trump's "emigration" or ethnic cleansing plan.
CJPME warns that this is a prelude to the permanent expulsion of the Palestinian population in Gaza, under the guise of relief. Palestinians fear that they will never be allowed to return to their homes, echoing the trauma of the 1948 Nakba. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini has warned that Israel's plans amount to the creation of "massive concentration camps" as part of a "second Nakba." Similarly, Holocaust historian Amos Goldberg warns that Israel is building "a concentration camp or a transit camp for Palestinians before they expel them." Disturbingly, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has defiantly endorsed the plan, reportedly stating: “Feed them Ben & Jerry’s, for all I care.”
CJPME calls on Prime Minister Carney and the Canadian government to immediately and publicly condemn Israel’s plans for concentration camps and to oppose all measures that would result in the permanent displacement of Gaza’s civilian population. CJPME reiterates that urgent action is necessary to stop these crimes from going forward, including sanctions on Israeli leadership and a comprehensive two-way arms embargo.