Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman has approached the government of Cyprus with an idea for a new, floating dock to receive goods bound for Gaza — one that would include a system that enable Israeli monitoring so as to prevent Hamas from smuggling weapons and other terror materials into the enclave.
Such a project has long been a strategic goal of Hamas.
The catch?
The two living Israeli civilians and the bodies of two fallen IDF soldiers being held hostage by Hamas — Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul — must be returned to Israel.
In fact, the entire idea for the project is to be pitched directly to the Gaza public, bypassing Gaza’s ruling Hamas terrorist organizations, according to a report broadcast Monday by Hadashot TV.
Israel intends to set up a project team within the next two weeks, and complete a working plan in the next three months.
Liberman discussed the idea over the weekend with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, according to the report. The meeting followed a visit to the region by senior U.S. presidential adviser Jared Kushner and U.S. Special Representative for International Negotiations Jason Greenblatt. Both men are involved in efforts to raise half a billion dollars towards rehabilitation and upgrade projects in Gaza in advance of the rollout of the Trump Administration’s plan for peace in the region.