As calls grow to improve the dire living conditions in the Gaza Strip, Israel reportedly is quietly planning to set up three industrial zones along its Gaza border that could employ thousands of Palestinians and help ease the threat of terrorism that rises from poverty and oppression.

Matan Tsuri, a security affairs correspondent for Yedioth Ahronoth, revealed Nov. 29 Israel's big plans for what the news site called "anti-terrorist factories." Two of the industrial zones are to be built on 2,000-dunam (almost 500-acre) plots of land, while the third will be developed on 1,500 dunams. In mid-November, some big European banks and companies, along with US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, were briefed about the plan and said they are interested in it, Tsuri said.

He noted that Eshkol Regional Council Mayor Gadi Yarkoni and Sha'ar Hanegev Regional Council Mayor Ofir Libstein are leading the plan along with the authorities from other settlements. Quoting Israeli security officials that he did not name, Tsuri noted that the plan coincides with accelerated and relatively positive communication between Hamas and Israel. The talks have been kept low key.

Speaking to Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, a Hamas official said, “The movement [Hamas] does raise in the media the economic plans to improve the conditions in the Gaza Strip while they are still being deliberated. This is although we are open to any plan that would ease [the situation] in Gaza.”