-
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.
Tags
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!