BICOM

Israel’s transport minister has advocated the construction of an artificial island of the Gaza Strip coast, which would include a seaport and possibly an airport and hotels.

Transport Minister Yisrael Katz yesterday said: “Israel has no interest to make life harder for the population there. But because of security concerns we can’t build an airport or seaport in Gaza.”

Katz proposed the construction of a three square mile island in international waters, connected to the Gaza coast by a three mile bridge. The island itself would belong to no individual country, but would be administered by the Palestinians and international organisations. Israel would maintain security control on the bridge itself.

Katz, who also revealed sketches of the island, said that in addition to a seaport, there would be potential to build an airport and hotels. He added: “And this would be just the beginning… We would create electricity, desalination plants. This island will be an island of initiatives of all kinds.”

The plan has not yet been discussed with the Palestinian Authority (PA), while Katz reiterated that Israel will not enter talks with Hamas. He also said that the island project would need to be funded by foreign investors.

Access to Gaza has been high on the list of issues discussed between Israel and Turkey in order to finalise an agreement to normalise relations between the two countries. It is thought that an accord to re-establish ties after a six-year hiatus could be agreed within the coming weeks.

Israel places restrictions on some goods entering the Gaza Strip to prevent Hamas from importing materials used for armaments and military infrastructure. Israeli authorities have intercepted prohibited goods on numerous occasions since Operation Protective Edge in 2014. Hamas is suspected to be replenishing its arsenal of rockets, while it openly admits to rebuilding the complex network of tunnels designed to attack Israel. Nonetheless, Israel permits the entry of around 850 truckloads of goods into Gaza each day.