A controversial Israeli proposal to construct a large-scale “humanitarian city” in Gaza is facing growing skepticism inside the government, after IDF officials informed the limited security cabinet Sunday that the project could take up to a year to complete and cost as much as 15 billion shekels—more than double initial estimates.

The revised timeline and cost projections reportedly triggered frustration from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who sharply criticized military commanders and demanded they present “a more realistic” and affordable version of the plan. According to multiple cabinet sources, Netanyahu instructed the IDF to deliver a detailed blueprint within days, despite internal military resistance.

Initially envisioned as a sprawling tent encampment to house up to 500,000 Palestinians displaced from northern Gaza, the so-called humanitarian city has drawn both international criticism and domestic concern. The updated projections, presented to the cabinet over the weekend, raised immediate questions about Israel’s capacity to shoulder the costs alone and sparked renewed debate about the political and strategic implications of the initiative.

Defense officials reportedly warned that diverting troops and engineering resources to build the camp could jeopardize core military goals—namely, dismantling Hamas and securing the release of Israeli hostages. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir was said to have clashed directly with Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, cautioning that the plan could pave the way toward de facto military governance in Gaza and be viewed internationally as forced displacement.

Despite these concerns, Smotrich authorized initial funding for engineering groundwork, and a spokesperson for the Finance Ministry accused critics of exaggerating costs to derail the effort. “The war has already cost hundreds of billions without delivering decisive results, largely due to the humanitarian aid reaching Hamas,” the spokesperson said. “The correct administration of civilians—and suffocating Hamas—is the only path to victory. Anyone hoping to play games with the budget should reconsider.”

While some officials privately doubt the plan will ever be implemented, Netanyahu remains publicly committed. According to participants in the meeting, the prime minister is counting on eventual support from Arab states—including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates—to assume financial and administrative control of Gaza in the postwar period and potentially reimburse Israel for its investment.

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