Israel’s Gaza offshore gas plans condemned as illegal resource grab

Israel’s plans to explore for gas off the coast of Gaza have drawn condemnation from rights groups and environmental advocates.

Since 2024, Israel has granted exploration licences for natural gas in areas considered part of Palestine’s maritime boundary off Gaza’s shores.

In February, Energy Minister Eli Cohen approved Israel’s fifth offshore gas licensing round in the Mediterranean.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the plan would allow energy companies to explore around 8,600 square kilometres of sea, divided into six search zones.

Adalah, a Haifa-based legal centre focused on Palestinian rights, said two of the six zones fall within recognised Palestinian maritime territory off Gaza. The group said Israel’s previous offshore licensing round had also encroached on Palestinian waters.

In a letter sent last month to Cohen and Israel’s attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, Adalah argued the new licensing round was illegal because around 1,000 square kilometres of the designated area lie in waters claimed by the State of Palestine.

The group urged the government to halt the exploration plans.

The letter, shared with Middle East Eye, said Israel “has no authority to operate” in Palestinian maritime areas, adding that exploration there would breach both Israeli and international law.

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