Major Scoop
Green Rafah: IDF Begins Initial Work for Controversial New City Near Active Tunnel Fighting
The IDF has reportedly begun initial engineering work for a controversial new urban zone called "Green Rafah" in eastern Rafah, intended for non-Hamas civilians, even as cabinet ministers express anger over the project's proximity to sensitive border areas.
A significant and highly controversial development is underway in eastern Rafah, where the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have reportedly begun initial engineering work toward establishing a new urban zone intended for Gazan civilians unaffiliated with the Hamas terrorist group. Dubbed "Green Rafah," the planned city is being advanced in an area currently under full Israeli operational control, raising immediate tensions within Israel's own political leadership.
Journalist Amiel Yerhi and Yinon Yatakh revealed the ground preparations, which have already commenced with basic engineering tasks, including clearing debris and safely handling unexploded ordnance. According to the report, a much larger-scale engineering deployment is expected to begin early next week, marking a serious commitment to the project. The IDF declined to offer official comment on the initiative.
Development Near Active Combat
The decision to proceed with the preparatory work is underscored by the high-risk environment in eastern Rafah. Just this morning, IDF forces working in the area encountered Hamas terrorists emerging from the adjacent Rafah tunnel system. This incident highlights the extreme proximity of the planned development zone to active combat sites where remnants of Hamas remain trapped and isolated.
The city is intended to serve as a new, designated housing area for Gazans who are not associated with the terrorist group that controlled the region for years. While the ultimate size and scope of "Green Rafah" remain unclear, the immediate preparatory work signals an advance in the political and operational decision-making regarding the area's post-war future.
Internal Political Pushback
The initiative has not been met with unanimous support inside Israel's political establishment. Several cabinet ministers have reportedly expressed anger and opposition to the plan, specifically cautioning against actions that could endanger Israeli communities near the border. These ministers are quoted as insisting:
"Do not build on the yellow line in a way that endangers our communities."
The "yellow line" likely refers to the boundary areas adjacent to the border communities, which are still struggling to recover from the October 7 failure and the subsequent war. Despite these vocal concerns from inside the government, the operational preparations unfolding on the ground suggest that political leaders may now be clearing the bureaucratic and security pathways for the project to move forward.
The construction of "Green Rafah" could represent a fundamental shift in Israel’s approach to managing the population of Gaza unaffiliated with Hamas, potentially isolating the terrorist group while consolidating control over the border region.