Watan-British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he is considering sanctions against Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, in response to Katz’s controversial proposal to relocate Palestinians from Gaza into a “humanitarian city” in Rafah, which critics describe as a de facto detention camp.
This marks the latest sign of growing diplomatic tension between European governments and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration, particularly over policies related to the war in Gaza.
According to Israeli media reports, Katz told reporters last week that he had instructed the Israeli military to begin preparing a camp on the ruins of Rafah. The plan would involve relocating Palestinians into this fenced camp only after passing security checks to verify they are not affiliated with Hamas. Reports indicate that once inside, individuals would not be allowed to leave freely.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, speaking to The Guardian, condemned the proposal, saying it resembles a concentration camp.
In testimony before the International Development Committee in the UK Parliament on Wednesday, Lammy stated:“No defense minister should talk about detaining people, who likely cannot leave, in the way that was described… I condemn this in the strongest terms.”
When asked if he intends to sanction Katz, Lammy said he could not comment on ongoing sanction considerations, but pointed out that he had previously made similar public condemnations against other Israeli ministers before imposing official sanctions on them.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense did not respond immediately to requests for comment.
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The proposed “humanitarian city” in Rafah, described as a closed camp for Palestinians, has been widely criticized by human rights groups as a form of forced displacement, collective punishment, and possible violation of international law, especially given restrictions on movement.
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The idea reflects Israel’s post-Gaza war planning, aiming to displace Palestinian civilians under the guise of security, raising fears of ethnic cleansing in the region.
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David Lammy, who became UK Foreign Secretary under the new Labour government, has taken a tougher stance on Israeli actions in Gaza compared to his predecessors, signaling a potential shift in Britain’s Middle East policy.
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The UK has already imposed sanctions on some Israeli settlers and far-right ministers earlier in 2025. Sanctioning a high-ranking figure like Yisrael Katz would escalate diplomatic tensions between London and Tel Aviv and could trigger reactions from other European governments.
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This comes amid broader international backlash to Netanyahu’s Gaza war strategy, which many Western allies now see as unsustainable, disproportionate, and a potential war crime risk.
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