Hamas Seeks to Reopen Southern Gaza Airport

Closed since 2001

The Hamas government is working toward reopening the only airport in the Gaza Strip.

Named after Yasser Arafat, the airport, which is located close to the Egyptian border, opened in 1998, when the Palestinian Authority was still in control of the Gaza Strip.

The airport was closed in 2001 after being damaged by the IDF.

Ziad al-Thatha, Hamas's deputy prime minister, said that his government has asked the Egyptians to help reopen the airport. He did not say when and if it would resume operations.