American pop star Billie Eilish on Wednesday criticized a controversial Israeli government plan to establish a “humanitarian city” in southern Gaza, calling the proposal “horrifying.”
Eilish posted a CNN report on her Instagram account detailing Defense Minister Israel Katz’s directive for the IDF to expedite preparations for the compound, which would be built on the ruins of Rafah. The planned site is intended to house some of the 600,000 Palestinians who were previously displaced to the coastal area of Al-Mawasi.
According to the report, entry into the compound would be contingent upon security screenings to ensure that evacuees are not affiliated with Hamas. Once inside, residents would not be permitted to leave. Katz has indicated that the initiative could expand to include the relocation of Gaza’s entire population—over 2 million people.
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The initiative comes amid ongoing negotiations for a hostage release deal, with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff saying that the gaps between Israel and Hamas have narrowed. Israeli officials describe the planned city as a civilian enclave aimed at isolating the population from Hamas influence.
Eilish has largely avoided making explicit public statements on the Israel-Gaza war. However, she wore a red “ceasefire” pin at the 2024 Academy Awards, which many interpreted as a gesture of solidarity with Palestinians.