In its coverage of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plans to rebuild the Gaza Strip, announced by his son-in-law Jared Kushner at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the American channel «Sky News» claimed that the besieged Palestinian territory has never had an airport. The report suggested that the new project would remedy this absence.
The report quickly drew criticism on social media, where users shared a video clip featuring a channel presenter standing in front of a large screen displaying a map of the Gaza Strip. The presenter explained Trump’s plans, including the intention to build an airport near the Egyptian border, stating, “He also talked about transforming the strip into a vibrant destination with transportation hubs, and there is even a plan for an airport, which the strip has never had before, located right at the edge adjacent to the border with Egypt.”
However, the channel’s assertion is inaccurate. The Gaza Strip did have an airport, which Morocco played a crucial role in constructing. Notably, one of the first planes to land there was Moroccan.
It’s important to remember that the Gaza Airport, known as «Yasser Arafat International Airport,» was built under the guidance of Moroccan architects, following instructions from the late King Hassan II. The airport was twinned with Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca. Unfortunately, after the outbreak of the second intifada in 2000, the Israeli army completely destroyed the infrastructure, and operations came to a halt by December 2001.
