The “Metatron” project involves the construction of an underground corridor connecting the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, enabling the free movement of Palestinians within the future state without passing through Israeli checkpoints or travelling on Israeli roads. This infrastructure solution aims to strengthen the connection between the regions and support economic development, while maintaining Israel’s full security.
The Tunnel as Infrastructure
The Metatron Project envisions the tunnel not merely as a transit corridor, but as a foundational piece of Palestinian civilian infrastructure: one that enables economic development, freedom of movement, and territorial continuity between Gaza and the West Bank without passing through Israeli checkpoints or roads.
Technical Parameters of the Tunnel
- Length: approximately 50 km, with guaranteed placement of exits within the Gaza Strip and the West Bank no closer than 5 km from the Metatron Wall
- Rail-only tunnel: two single-track tubes, one for each direction, each about 10.5 m in diameter. Passenger trains, shuttle trains carrying cars and trucks, and freight trains run through them; private vehicles do not drive through the tunnel.
- Rolling stock: cars and trucks are loaded onto shuttle trains at the terminals, with drivers travelling in a separate passenger coach; freight travels in containers that are scanned and sealed at the terminal. Trains run non-stop from entrance to exit.
- Distance between the tubes: at least one tube diameter of solid ground, with cross-passages every 300-500 m and several underground safety stations for evacuation and emergency services.
- Depth: 50-70 m underground
- Control at both ends: every train is weighed in motion at the entrance and at the exit, so that anything unloaded or picked up inside the tunnel shows up immediately; fire-suppression stations are installed along the tubes, and hazardous cargo runs separately under special rules or is not permitted at all.
Project Cost Estimate
- Cost estimate: about $13.6 billion (range $9.4-20.3 billion), including terminals, design (5%) and contingency (15%):
- Boring of the two tubes with lining (100 km of boring): $7.2 billion; cross-passages (about 125): $0.7 billion; three underground safety stations and about 10 emergency shafts: $0.9 billion.
- Track, signalling, power, ventilation, fire suppression and fiber-optic sensors: $1.5 billion; two terminals with inspection and shuttle loading: $1.7 billion; rolling stock: $0.6 billion.
- Surface corridor and security:
- Double sensor fence, closed sections and overpasses: $0.4 billion; security systems and about 10 response posts above the sections: $0.5 billion.
Benchmark: the Gotthard Base Tunnel in Switzerland, 57 km with two single-track tubes, cost CHF 12.2 billion.
The project requires significant investment; however, its implementation will provide a strategic connection between the West Bank and Gaza, facilitating the development of trade and transport flows and enhancing the economic stability of the region.
Engineering Solutions and Innovations
The project envisages the use of modern technologies for the construction and operation of the tunnel. It includes solutions such as a reinforced tunnel lining, fire-safety and ventilation systems, and protection against emergency situations. The tunnel will be equipped with monitoring systems, including fiber-optic sensors in the lining, sensors for monitoring the condition of the structures, and regular inspections for damage or threats.
In addition, the tunnel’s auxiliary systems, including ventilation and lighting, will be powered in part by solar panels and wind turbines with energy storage, while train traction is supplied from the electricity grid.
Environmental and Sustainable Solutions
The project also considers the importance of adhering to environmental standards. The construction of the tunnel will be carried out with minimal impact on the region’s ecosystem. All work will be carefully planned to avoid disrupting the natural balance, and monitoring systems will include environmental sensors to monitor soil and groundwater conditions.
Political Context
The tunnel exists at the intersection of engineering and diplomacy. Its realization depends not only on technical feasibility, but on the political conditions that make a binding, enforceable security agreement between Israel and a legitimate Palestinian authority possible.
Political and Social Implications
The tunnel carries significant political weight beyond its engineering function. For Palestinians, it would represent the first permanent physical link between Gaza and the West Bank: a connection that has never existed in the history of Palestinian statehood aspirations. For Israel, it removes the need for Palestinian traffic on Israeli roads and through Israeli checkpoints, reducing friction points and security exposure along internal routes.
At the same time, the project raises unresolved questions: Who governs Gaza at the time of construction? Which Palestinian authority assumes operational responsibility for the tunnel? What international guarantees ensure compliance with security terms? These questions do not invalidate the concept, but they must be addressed in any realistic implementation roadmap and will be subject to separate diplomatic negotiation.
Post-October 7 Context
The Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent Israeli military operation in Gaza have fundamentally altered the political landscape in which this component of the Metatron Project must be considered. The question of who governs Gaza – and under what security arrangements – is no longer hypothetical. Any implementation of the tunnel concept is contingent upon the establishment of a legitimate, accountable governing authority in Gaza capable of entering into and enforcing binding security agreements with Israel.
Until such conditions are met, the tunnel remains a long-term infrastructural vision rather than a near-term construction priority. Its inclusion in the Metatron Project reflects a commitment to Palestinian civilian connectivity as a strategic principle – one that will require the right political conditions to realize.
Since November 2025, Gaza has been administered under UN Security Council Resolution 2803, which established the Board of Peace as a transitional administration, a Palestinian National Committee for day-to-day governance and an International Stabilization Force. For the tunnel, this framework is the natural partner on the Gaza side during the transition: the project does not compete with it, and the Gaza terminal would be built and operated in coordination with the transitional authorities until Palestinian self-government is established.
Security Framework
The same infrastructure that enables Palestinian movement must be designed from the outset to prevent its misuse. The following framework outlines the security measures required to ensure that the tunnel serves exclusively as a civilian corridor and cannot be weaponized against Israel.
Main Threats and Prevention Measures
- Infiltration of militants into Israel via the tunnel
- Transportation of weapons and contraband
- Attempts to use the tunnel for attacks
- Sabotage or damage to the tunnel
Engineering and Security Solutions
The proposed security measures for the tunnel are a set of recommendations that the Palestinian side should undertake to protect the infrastructure from various threats. These measures include both engineering solutions and security systems aimed at preventing the infiltration of militants, sabotage, or other forms of attack. Measures at the terminals are implemented on Palestinian territory, where the tunnel’s entrances and exits are located; inside the tunnel they operate under a joint protocol, while Israel is responsible for the perimeter above it.
Israel is ready to provide technological support, including highly effective monitoring and security systems, as well as deploy specialists to assist in the implementation of these measures. However, any actions involving Israeli technologies or specialists can only be carried out with mutual consent and upon an official invitation from the Palestinian side. This guarantees respect for the sovereignty and independence of Palestinian territory, as well as fosters the creation of an effective and safe cooperation mechanism.
There is one exception to this principle. If there is an immediate threat to life inside the tunnel, such as an attack or a hostage-taking, Israeli forces may enter the affected section without waiting for an invitation, with immediate notification of the Palestinian side and the international partners. In normal operation, responsibility inside the tunnel remains with the Palestinian side.
- Control Zones at the Entrances and Exits
- Placement of multi-level terminals with biometric identification, baggage scanners, and vehicle inspection systems.
- Automatic blocking gates to prevent unauthorized access.
- Automated Control Inside the Tunnel
- Full video surveillance with an AI-based behavior analysis system for monitoring events and detecting abnormal activities.
- Tunnel scanning system to identify inconsistencies (e.g., wall ruptures, explosives).
- Isolated Technical Compartments
- Technical rooms at the cross-passages and at the boundaries of the 5 km sections house equipment for monitoring and maintenance of the tunnel.
- Access to these compartments is restricted and granted only to authorized personnel, such as security and technical specialists, to carry out maintenance, repair, and monitoring of the tunnel’s condition.
- Protective and Emergency Systems
- Physical barriers and emergency closures of the tunnel.
- Multilayered steel gates are installed every 5 km, which automatically lock in case of an alert.
- Ability to isolate an individual tunnel section with emergency gates in case of a breach attempt, while keeping evacuation exits open for civilians.
- Responsibility in an incident: inside the tunnel, including the release of any hostages, responsibility lies with the Palestinian side, with international support. Israel holds the perimeter: it may close the gates of any section unilaterally, guards the fenced sections on the surface and shares sensor data; the gates are reopened only by agreement of both sides. Israeli forces do not enter the tunnel: an isolated section is sealed by gates below and by the fenced sections above.
- Detectors and Sensors
- Underground motion and acoustic analysis sensors to detect unusual vibrations, digging, and sounds.
- Infrared and thermal sensors to detect suspicious activities.
- Military Security Measures
- Rapid-response military reserve.
- Bases at both ends of the tunnel with readiness to block the tunnel in case of emergencies.
- Regular inspections: during maintenance windows, an inspection train scans the lining of both tubes, and each scan is compared with the previous one to reveal any change in the structure; periodic joint inspections are carried out by the tunnel operator together with Israeli representatives and international observers, under a common protocol.
Engineering Measures on the Surface
The following proposed engineering and security measures to protect the tunnel from threats originating from the Palestinian side constitute a series of actions that the Israeli side must undertake. These measures are aimed at preventing potential attacks, infiltration, and sabotage, as well as ensuring the full security of Israeli territory in the event the tunnel is used for criminal activities.
The key measures proposed for implementation by Israel include a security corridor along the entire length of the tunnel, multilayered protective structures, and innovative technologies for monitoring and analyzing the situation around the tunnel. Ground-penetrating radar and acoustic monitoring systems will provide continuous control over the soil condition and potential tunneling attempts, while gas and pressure detectors will help promptly identify any attempts at sabotage or infiltration.
In addition, Israel will ensure access control and regular inspection of the area using military police, drones, and other automated security systems. These measures will be integrated with a rapid-response system to assist in the event of an emergency.
- Security Corridor Above the Tunnel
- A fenced security corridor along the entire length of the tunnel, with its exact route to be set during detailed design so as to bypass towns and villages.
- Directly above the tunnel axis, a strip of about 100 meters enclosed by a double fence with sensors and divided by transverse fences into closed sections that match the tunnel’s 5-kilometer segments. Construction, drilling and excavation are prohibited inside the strip, and anyone who surfaces there is isolated within a closed section until rapid-response forces arrive. On either side, a monitoring band of about 1 km in which farming and ordinary land use continue, and only deep excavation and drilling require a permit.
- Access control using military police and drones.
- Multilayered Soil Control
- Regular ground-penetrating radar scans of the fenced strip to detect excavation near the surface.
- An acoustic monitoring system to detect unusual vibrations.
- Reinforced Tunnel Protection Structures
- The depth of the tunnel is 50-70 meters, depending on geology; protection against breakthrough relies not on depth alone, but on fiber-optic sensors in the lining and the fenced sections on the surface.
- Sensors in the lining: fiber-optic cables along the entire length of both tubes detect impacts, drilling and vibration and locate them to within a few meters, so that any attempt to break through the lining is detected immediately.
- Cross-passages and underground safety stations built to withstand blasts and fire, serving as refuges for passengers.
- Gas and pressure detectors to identify attempts to undermine or infiltrate by militants.
- All roads and railways crossing the corridor pass over it on overpasses, so that the fences remain continuous; some of the overpasses also serve as wildlife crossings.
Military Measures on the Surface
- Total Control System
- Satellite imaging (resolution 30 cm) at regular intervals, complemented by continuous observation from drones and aerostats.
- Automated reconnaissance drones for patrolling.
- Underground and surface sensors (thermal imaging, seismographs).
- Rapid Threat Mitigation Combat Systems
- IDF and emergency rapid-response posts above each 5-kilometer tunnel section guard the fenced sections on the surface; emergency shafts serve ventilation, maintenance and evacuation under an agreed protocol.
- Deployment of mobile missile defense systems (Iron Dome + laser complexes).
- Operator-controlled firing points: AI assists in detecting and tracking targets, while the decision to open fire is always made by a human.
- Emergency Blockage Measures
- In the event of an attack attempt, the tunnel is shut down immediately: gates isolate the affected section, traffic is halted, passengers are evacuated through the cross-passages into the neighbouring tube wherever possible, and the isolated section is handled under the incident protocol.
- In the event of a severe and verified security breach, Israel reserves the right to permanently seal or structurally disable designated sections of the tunnel, subject to the terms of the bilateral security agreement governing tunnel operations.
Political and Legal Measures
- International Legitimacy
- Strict international agreements on tunnel inspections.
All proposed measures are mandatory for implementation on the Israeli side, with a focus on ensuring the security of the State of Israel and preventing potential threats. These measures will be part of an overall security plan that will be developed and agreed upon in cooperation with the Palestinian side.
Conclusion
The “Metatron” project is a strategically significant and comprehensive solution for establishing a connection between Gaza and the West Bank without passing through Israeli checkpoints or roads. Its implementation requires substantial investment, but it has the potential to become a milestone in the region’s development. It will also create opportunities for international cooperation and investment, especially in the fields of infrastructure and ecology.
When the political conditions are right, this tunnel will stand as proof that security and connectivity are not opposites – but complementary foundations of a stable future.