Israeli officials are exploring ways in which Israel can benefit economically from the reconstruction of Gaza, according to a report in Haaretz.
Senior finance ministry officials discussed the opportunities with senior Israeli army officers, Haaretz reported on Wednesday, including the construction of a highway in Israel connecting to Gaza.
It was suggested that countries seeking access to Gaza via Israel would pay for Israeli highway construction.
That would include a highway along the southern Route 232, which would provide better access for Palestinians travelling between Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
Israeli officials also discussed economic opportunities around the supply of electricity to Gaza.
Donor countries involved in Gaza’s reconstruction are reportedly currently discussing two options: building a power plant in Egypt, or constructing a plant within Gaza itself.
According to Haaretz, because the latter option could give Hamas in Gaza an independent power source, Israel is exploring a third option: supplying electricity to Gaza from Israeli territory.
Donor countries would be expected to support Israel in expanding its power plant in Ashkelon near the Gaza border. That would in turn boost power supplies to all Israelis
In return, the report states, donor countries would be expected to support Israel in expanding its power plant in Ashkelon near the Gaza border. That would in turn boost power supplies to all Israelis.
At least six working groups have been set up for Gaza’s reconstruction at an international civil-military coordination centre in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel.
Headquarters for representatives of at least 28 countries are at the centre, where the teams include stabilization, security, intelligence, humanitarian assistance and engineering. There is an Israeli representative in each team.
Profiting from genocide
The UN has said that reconstruction of the Gaza Strip will cost $70bn over the coming decades, and has warned of imminent economic collapse in the occupied Palestinian territories.
A report released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) said Israel’s bombardment of the enclave had created a “human-made abyss” in Gaza, with the economy contracting by 87 percent over the course of 2023-2024.
Netanyahu says all Israelis reject Palestinian state, denounces Gaza genocide as ‘blood libel’
Last month, Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and special envoy, unveiled a controversial plan to turn Gaza into a free market haven, complete with coastal skyscrapers and business districts.
The plan has been described by analysts as a deliberate attempt to wipe away Palestinian heritage and culture in Gaza, and an example of corporations and individuals seeking to profit from genocide.
Kushner said a conference was set to be held in Washington about investment in Gaza in the coming weeks.
According to Israeli army officials cited by Haaretz, Israel has approved construction for a new neighbourhood in Rafah, southern Gaza, funded by the UAE. The neighbourhood is due to house around 25,000 people.
IMAGE CREDIT: The coastal road in Nuseirat in central Gaza, with Israel’s Rutenberg power station in Ashkelon in the background, 9 September 2025 (AFP/Eyad Baba)
[ SOURCE: MIDDLE EAST EYE ]
