Striking energy deals in disputed seas: the case of the Gaza Marine gas field.

This article examines the complex history and legal status of the Gaza Marine offshore gas field, located near the Gaza Strip and discovered in 2000, focusing on developments up to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. Although the gas field legally belongs to the Palestinian Authority (PA) under the Oslo Accords, its development has been hindered by Israel’s maritime blockade and Hamas’s control over Gaza’s coastline since 2007. In June 2023, Israel unexpectedly approved the field’s development following negotiations involving Egypt, which was to facilitate gas exports and revenue transfer to the PA, but the outbreak of war later that year complicated these plans. The article highlights similarities between this agreement and a 2022 Israel–Lebanon maritime deal, noting the role of third-party mediators, shared security and economic interests, and the offshore location as factors enabling cooperation despite ongoing conflicts. It concludes that maritime law and diplomatic creativity offer potential frameworks for resolving such disputes and advancing regional energy cooperation.