Israeli minister proposes building an artificial island off the coast of Gaza

Israel’s intelligence minister has released a video illustrating his plan for an artificial island off the coast of Gaza, which he says would help alleviate humanitarian suffering in the isolated enclave.

The plan calls for the island to be built in the Mediterranean three miles off the coast of Gaza and connected to the strip by a long bridge.

The island, which would itself be 2.5 miles long, would have a port where passengers and cargo could be dropped off and then transported to Gaza itself. It could potentially one day even have an airport. 

Gaza has neither a shipping port nor an airport of its own and its two million residents are almost entirely dependent supplies coming through the land border with Israel.

"The artificial island initiative is aimed at providing an answer to a reality that is bad for the Palestinians and not good for Israel," the video’s narrator says. 

The project is the brainchild of Israel’s intelligence minister, whose name is Yisrael Katz. 

He has pushed for the idea for seven years, often facing scepticism from other ministers, but claims now that the project is gaining momentum. 

Mr Katz presented the slick video to the Israeli cabinet earlier this month and won the support of some of his colleagues but failed to convince Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s defence minister, who remains opposed. 

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, would have the ultimate say but his position on the proposal is not known. 

According to Mr Katz, the island would cost $5 billion dollars, which would be raised from international donors, and would take five years to construct. 

Under his plan, the island would have a marina for passengers and a port for cargo ships. Israel’s navy would patrol the surrounding waters and Israeli forces would inspect everything that comes through the island. 

An international police force would have responsibility for security on the island itself and would man a checkpoint in the bridge connecting it to Gaza. A section of the bridge could be lifted to disconnect the island from Gaza in the event of a security crisis. 

The island would also have a power station and a water desalination plant. 

Gaza has been controlled the Islamist militant group Hamas since 2007, when Hamas forces took power and drove out the Western-backed Palestinian Authority (PA).

Israel responded with a blockade on Gaza, which it says is necessary for its own security. Critics argue that the blockade is a form of collective punishment on the people of Gaza.  

Mr Katz argues that the island would make it easier for people and supplies to get in and out of Gaza, simultaneously easing Palestinian suffering and reducing international criticism of Israel. 

“He believes in it because he knows that if something isn’t done in the end we’re going to face some sort of human catastrophe or another round of war,” said Arye Shalicar, head of international affairs at the intelligence ministry. 

“Seven years ago almost everyone was against it but since then we’ve had two rounds of war with Hamas. Many people who said, in politics and in the security establishment, started understanding this might be a good solution.”

Mr Katz is a senior figure in Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party and says he plans to run for the leadership of the party when the prime minister leaves office. 

Mr Lieberman, the defence minister, remains a sceptic of the island idea and argues that the project would be a reward for Hamas  “Hamas will say that thanks to its struggle it has received investments worth billions and a new port in Gaza.”

Hamas have in the past opposed the idea, saying it was a way of making the Israeli blockade permanent. Some sort of agreement with Hamas would almost certainly be needed for the island idea to go ahead.