While Israel is reported to have reach understanding with the president of Cyprus to move ahead with its Gaza seaport plan, that plan is contingent on Hamas releasing the bodies of IDF soldiers along with other captives.

Channel 2 News has reported that Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman reached agreement with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades to begin work on a seaport that will serve Gaza, supervised by Israel. Lieberman is a strong proponent of the plan, which he feels will significantly increase the Gazan economy while permitting Israel to maintain security control over imports to the Hamas-run area.

Teams are to be set up in the coming weeks, and blueprints for the plan will be present within three months. There will be American involvement, as the US plans to infuse huge sums into Gaza as a humanitarian effort to improve quality of life for Gazans.

Ynet reports that Liberman is firm in his position, and Hamas has a “take it or leave it” option regarding the need to release the bodies and hostages before construction begins.

The matter of humanitarian assistance to Gaza was on the agenda during the erv Shabbos meeting in Jerusalem between PM Netanyahu and US special Mideast envoys Jason Greenblatt and Jared Kushner.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)