The Israeli government is planning to build an artificial island off the coast of Gaza, which will feature an airport, a seaport and hotels.
At a reputed cost of $5 billion, the three square mile island would ‘connect Gaza with the rest of the world,’ said Israeli minister of intelligence and transportation Yisrael Katz.
It would be linked to Gaza by a by a three-mile bridge and would ‘effectively ease the economic hardship faced in Gaza while still maintaining border security,’ Katz said.
The island would also feature a marina for yachts.
Israel would oversee security to and from the island but it would essentially be run by Palestinians, Katz said.
"I do not think it is right to lock up two million people without any connection to the world. 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."
He claimed the island would be located in international waters and would provide Palestinians with a measure of economic independence.
However an aide of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called it a ‘politically motivated’ move that would lead to ‘the final severing of Gaza from the rest of the occupied territory of the state of Palestine.’
