Chicago – February 05, 2026
The United Arab Emirates has drafted plans to construct a “UAE Temporary Emirates Housing Complex” near Rafah in southern Gaza, an area under Israeli military control, to house thousands of displaced Palestinians.
A planning map reviewed by Reuters shows the site located close to the “yellow line” from an October ceasefire, separating Israeli- and Hamas-held territories. Rafah, once home to 250,000 people, has been nearly destroyed and depopulated by Israeli operations.
The initiative aligns with a U.S. proposal under President Donald Trump for “Planned Communities” in Israeli-controlled zones, amid reconstruction efforts post-war. Israeli forces have cleared land from the Mediterranean toward Rafah for such projects.
An Emirati official affirmed commitment to scaling humanitarian aid in Gaza but did not confirm the plans. Diplomats express doubts over viability, as Palestinians may resist moving to Israeli-controlled areas.
