Qatar's proposal for an airport in Gaza is still up in the air, but here on the ground it has generated strong opinions. Where the Qataris see economic benefits for Gaza, others see the nefarious hand of US President Donald Trump.

Mohammed al-Emadi, Qatari ambassador to the Palestinian territories and head of Qatar’s Gaza Reconstruction Committee, spoke on Dec. 10 to the Palestinian news agency Sawa about Qatar's latest projects in Gaza, including the possibility of building an airport.

“Qatar has asked Israel about building an airport in the Gaza Strip under Qatari security supervision, so that planes can take off from Gaza to Doha and from there to anywhere in the world,” Emadi said. “Israel offered to give us an airport within its borders, but we refused, and we will reiterate our demand. Our goal is to find a means of transportation for Palestinians, the same as citizens in any other country in the world that has an airport and land ports.” Emadi added that the airport would be under full Qatari supervision and security. Al-Monitor attempted to contact Emadi, but his office said he had nothing to add to his previous statements. 

Perhaps waiting for the Israelis to respond, Emadi has not revealed the proposed airport’s location or cost or indicated whether he has consulted with the Palestinian Authority (PA), which controls the West Bank and has imposed sanctions on Gaza to try to force Hamas to relinquish control over the territory or form a unity government to administer it. Qatar, the biggest financial contributor to Gaza, has so far managed to maintain relations with Israel, Hamas and the Fatah-led PA.