A Palestinian Authority official is working on plans and funding to refurbish a PA-controlled airport in southern Gaza, to repair and upgrade two PA passenger aircraft, and to purchase two new planes. The cost of the project is estimated to be 22 million dollars. Operating air traffic into and out of Gaza, however, requires Israeli consent, as Israel currently maintains jurisdiction and control over the local air space.

To bypass issues of Israeli permission, the PA intends to initiate flights into and out of Egypt's El-Arish airport. El-Arish, in the northern Sinai, will serve as an alternate port for PA flights.

The Gaza-area airport that the PA is seeking to refurbish and operate again is in Dahaniyeh, near Rafiah on the border with Egypt. Israel has prevented the use of Dahaniyeh airport since 2001, at the height of a PA terrorist war, and in retaliation for the shooting death of IDF soldier Roger Salameh on the Egypt-Gaza border.

In reaction to the PA announcements, issued in an interview with the PA minister of transportation in the PA's Al-Ayyam newspaper, a senior source in the Israeli security
Israel has prevented the use of the airport since 2001, at the height of a PA terrorist war.
services told Arutz Sheva Radio, "It is unreasonable that the government of Israel would approve of the Palestinians operating the Dahaniyeh airport anew as long as the Kassam rockets continue to fly from the direction of Gaza towards the Negev."

Flights from Dahaniyeh also require Egyptian approval, as the flight path has to take Egyptian airspace into account. However, Egyptian authorities have also expressed reservations regarding renewed flights out of Gaza.

The PA plan would require a resolution to a dispute within the PA government, as well. Several months ago, PA chairman Mahmoud Abbas issued a "presidential order" transferring the control over the grounded planes and the unused Dahaniyeh airport to his authority. Until then, the airport and planes were under PA governmental authority, which meant that they were controlled by Hamas ministers. The announcement of new initiatives related to the airport and PA airplanes by the current PA minister of transportation is an indication of a power struggle focused on control over the port.