Introduction: A War of Unanswered Questions
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing over 1,200 Israelis and triggering a brutal military response. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) retaliated with full force, unleashing a military campaign that devastated Gaza, killing tens of thousands and displacing the majority of its 2.3 million inhabitants.
As the world watches the conflict unfold, the real beneficiaries may not be the people of Israel or Palestine, but those with economic and strategic ambitions for the land beneath the ruins.
Yet beyond the humanitarian tragedy, the war reveals deeper economic and geopolitical undercurrents. The collapse of Israel’s high-tech border defenses, the apparent intelligence failure, and the subsequent strategic offensive against Gaza raise critical questions:
– Was this purely an issue of Israeli security or were hidden economic and geopolitical interests at play?
– Could the Gaza Marine natural gas reserves, a potential new trade canal, and prime real estate redevelopment be key drivers of Israel’s full-scale invasion?
A deeper analysis suggests that this war is about much more than just Hamas and Israel. It is about energy security, economic control, and reshaping the regional balance of power.
1. Gaza’s Energy War: The Battle for Offshore Natural Gas
Beneath the waters of Gaza’s coastline lies a hidden treasure—the Gaza Marine gas field, discovered in 2000 by British Gas (BG Group). Estimated to hold over 1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, this untapped resource has the potential to transform the Palestinian economy or, in the hands of Israel, become another pillar of its energy dominance.
For over two decades, Israel has blocked Palestinian access to this resource, citing security concerns. In June 2023, just months before the war, Israel, the Palestinian Authority (PA), and Egypt reached a preliminary agreement to develop the gas field—an agreement that would have bypassed Hamas control and allowed Israel to regulate distribution.
By waging a large-scale war and displacing much of Gaza’s population, Israel could:
– Eliminate Hamas as a political force, removing obstacles to controlling offshore resources.
– Justify long-term military and political control over Gaza, effectively securing its maritime territory.
– Prevent Palestinian economic independence, ensuring that any resource extraction is mediated through Israeli or Egyptian partners.
2. The Gaza Canal: Challenging the Suez Monopoly?
For over 150 years, Egypt’s Suez Canal has been one of the world’s most strategic maritime chokepoints, handling 12% of global trade. Control over such a vital passage generates an annual revenue of $9 billion for Egypt.
For years, Israeli strategists have discussed an alternative canal—one that could bypass Suez and redirect global trade through Israeli-controlled territory. Known as the Ben Gurion Canal Project, this plan envisions a new maritime route through Israel or Gaza, potentially transforming Israel into a major global shipping hub.
If Gaza were entirely depopulated or brought under full Israeli control, constructing such a canal, pipeline, or transport corridor would become significantly easier. By doing so, Israel could:
– Reduce global reliance on Egypt’s Suez Canal.
– Create a direct trade route between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, increasing economic leverage.
– Consolidate its economic dominance in the region, shifting power dynamics in the Middle East.
3. A Real Estate Boom: Is Gaza’s Land More Valuable Without Its People?
In February 2024, former White House advisor Jared Kushner made headlines when he referred to Gaza’s “valuable waterfront property” and suggested that Israel could redevelop the land once the war ends.
This idea is not new. In Trump’s 2020 Peace Plan, Gaza was envisioned as a potential tourist and investment hub, with foreign investment pouring in to create a modernized economic zone. However, such a vision would be impossible without the removal of its existing population.
If the war permanently alters Gaza’s demographics, the land could be repurposed for:
– Luxury real estate, commercial zones, and international investment projects.
– A special economic zone, similar to Dubai or Singapore, designed for foreign businesses.
– Tourism and hospitality industries, capitalizing on the Mediterranean coastline.
In this context, the devastation of Gaza may not just be about security—it may be about transforming the land into something more profitable.
4. The Suspicious Weakening of Israeli Security on October 7
The October 7 attack raised serious questions about how Hamas was able to bypass one of the most sophisticated security networks in the world. Several anomalies stand out:
1. **Troop Redeployments**: Before the attack, many Israeli forces were shifted away from Gaza to the West Bank.
2. **Jewish Holiday (Simchat Torah)**: Many soldiers were on leave, reducing rapid response capability.
3. **Ignored Warnings**: Egypt warned Israel of an impending attack three days before October 7, but Israeli intelligence failed to act.
Was this just a historic intelligence failure, or was there a strategic motive behind the weakened security? Some critics argue that a major war in Gaza could serve multiple Israeli interests—from destroying Hamas to reshaping the region’s economic landscape.
Conclusion: A War for More Than Just Security?
The war in Gaza is undoubtedly a humanitarian disaster, but its economic and strategic dimensions suggest that it may also be a war of opportunity.
By connecting the dots between natural gas, trade routes, real estate, and security failures, a pattern emerges—one that suggests the destruction of Gaza serves broader economic and geopolitical objectives.
As the world watches the conflict unfold, the real beneficiaries may not be the people of Israel or Palestine, but those with economic and strategic ambitions for the land beneath the ruins.
By C. Anderson | Special Report | February 2025
