Aid trucks enter Gaza via Kerem Shalom Crossi
Aid trucks enter Gaza via Kerem Shalom CrossiFlash 90

Transportation Yisrael Katz has turned directly to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, he announced Sunday, over his proposal for Israel to immediately stop providing resources and humanitarian aid to Gaza.  

"Demilitarizing Gaza is a prerequisite to the plan [to stop aid] and to stop Operation Protective Edge." Katz said. "Since the Hamas takeover [of Gaza, in 2007 - ed.], Israel has failed to respond to changing realities."

He added that since Israel chose to "disengage" from Gaza by deporting all Jewish residents and pulling out Israeli security forces in 2005, that "separation" should work both ways.

"For many years I have called for a separation program," he added. "[This includes] the cessation of electricity, water, fuel, food, and other supplies; demilitarizing Gaza and removing its weapons arsenal, and creating a border between Israel and Gaza." 

Katz also called for Egypt, in turn, to end its own blockade on Gaza - and offered a rather creative proposal if they refused to do so.

"At the same time, the Rafah crossing should be opened between Gaza and Egypt for goods and civilian traffic under supervision," he said. "In the event the Egyptians refuse to cooperate, we must establish an island, 4.5 km off the Gaza coast in international waters, which will have an airport and a harbor, as well as hotels. The island would be connected to Gaza via a bridge, manned by Israel's national security for 100 years." 

Katz added that Israel would still have control over Gaza's naval imports, under the plan. However, Palestinian Arab leadership would keep full control of the airport and hotels on the island, "removing responsibility from Israel" and allowing "full freedom" on the Palestinian side while Israel can maintain its security "without fear of weapons smuggling through the sea and skies." 

If the conditions are breached, he said, Israel will provide deterrence on the Israel-Gaza border and "respond to any rocket fire with full intensity, just like any country from one border to another." 

Israel provides most of Gaza's water supply, electricity and communications infrastructure - despite the Palestinian Authority's refusal to pay for the service.

In 2013, 1.2 million liters of fuel were transferred through Israel’s Kerem Shalom Crossing into Gaza, according to the IDF Spokesperson's Office.  The fuel included 800,000 liters of diesel fuel for transportation, 400,000 liters of diesel fuel for Gaza’s power station, and another 200 tons of household gas. 

Israel also provides 100 megawatts of electricity to Gaza on a regular basis, including additional aid that was supplied during Hamas's energy crisis with Egypt earlier this year.

Much of that electricity is purchased for Gaza by the Palestinian Authority (PA), which owes Israel 1.4 billion shekels (nearly half a billion dollars) for unpaid electric bills.