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Israel Plans to Build a New International Airport Near Gaza
Israel intends to establish a new international airport in the southern region of the country adjacent to the Gaza Strip, following the approval of the project by the Economic Affairs Committee.
According to a report by Reuters, the proposed bill under discussion in the parliament suggests building the airport in the town of "Nefatim," which is located about 65 kilometers from the Gaza border and next to a military airbase in the Negev desert, where F-35 fighter jets are used. It is worth noting that this airbase was targeted by Iranian missiles last October.
The new airport, which will be approximately 132 kilometers from Tel Aviv, is expected to take seven years to build, with the capacity to accommodate up to 15 million passengers annually. The project aims to alleviate congestion at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel's main airport in Tel Aviv, which has a capacity of 40 million passengers per year and is nearing its maximum capacity. Data indicates that the number of travelers through the airport could exceed 80 million by 2050.
Despite the potential economic benefits, such as the creation of around 50,000 jobs, the Israeli military and security establishment opposes the project's implementation due to the proximity of the airport to the airbase.
In 2019, Israel opened Ramon Airport near the Red Sea resort of Eilat, which was handling international flights before the escalation of the conflict in Gaza. Currently, it primarily serves domestic flights, as most international airlines have suspended their flights to Israel due to the ongoing conflict.
In a related context, a spokeswoman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the government would establish a new administration aimed at facilitating the "voluntary departure" of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip. She confirmed that the security cabinet approved Defense Minister's proposal to create a specialized body to prepare a safe and monitored plan for residents of Gaza to leave for third countries.
The spokeswoman explained that this administration will be under the Ministry of Defense, stressing the necessity that those wishing to leave the besieged Gaza do so in accordance with Israeli and international law, and according to the vision of U.S. President Donald Trump.
