Mastodawn

On January 20, 2026, among the Monterey City Council actions: Opposed proposed federal program for offshore oil and gas leases off the California coast.

https://monterey.gov/your_city_hall/city_council/meeting_recap.php (Adopted a Resolution Opposing the Department of the Interior's Proposed Program for Offshore Oil and Gas Leases Off the California Coast - For details, go to https://www.isearchmonterey.org/OnBaseAgendaOnline/Documents/DownloadFileBytes/Council_Regular_Meeting_and_Closed_Session_6384_Agenda_Packet_1_20_2026_4_00_00_PM.pdf?documentType=5&meetingId=6384&isAttachment=true and enter DRILLING in your browser’s find window.)

#OilDrilling #OffshoreOil #OffshoreGas #BigOil #ClimateCrisis #ClimateAction #MontereyBay #PacificCoast #CaliforniaCoast #Monterey #LocalGovernment #MontereyBayNationalMarineSanctuary #MarineLife #Ecosystems

DoomsdaysCW Jul 26, 2025

Behind #Israel’s ‘#EndGame’ for #Gaza: Theft of #OffshoreGas reserves

By Betsey Piette
November 14, 2023

"In 1999, #BritishGas (BG) discovered the existence of natural gas in the Gaza Marine fields, 20 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza, at a depth of 610 meters below the surface. Further exploration by BG through two successful wells — Gaza Marine 1 and Gaza Marine 2 — determined the field could contain up to 1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. (EgyptOil-Gas.com, April 5, 2018)

"The Palestinian Authority was 'granted' the right to exercise sovereignty over its own maritime territory by the Oslo Accords in 1995. Four years later, following the findings of the offshore natural gas, the PA gave the international consortium BG a 25-year, 90% stake in a license to explore, develop any discovered fields, and install the required infrastructure. Since that time Israel has consistently blocked this development.

"In 2002, the PA approved BG’s proposals to construct a pipeline to a processing facility in Gaza. However, the Israeli state delayed this development, arguing that the pipeline should run to an Israeli-controlled port, and that Palestinians would have to supply Gaza Marine surplus fuel to Israel at far below market price.

"When Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections in Gaza in 2007, Israel established a militarized naval blockade, prohibiting further offshore development. Around the same time, #YamThetis, an Israeli gas consortium, challenged the awarding of the contract to BG, further delaying the process.

"In December 2008, in total contravention of international laws, Israel declared sovereignty over the Gaza Marine area, and BG closed its offices in Tel Aviv.

"#RoyalDutchShell bought out BG’s interests in the #GazaMarineFields for $52 million in 2016. By March 2018, Royal Dutch Shell backed out of their investment, leaving the PA to search for a replacement company to develop the field. (EgyptOil-Gas.com, April 5, 2018)."

#WorldPol #FreeGaza #FreePalestine #EndTheBlockade #GazaGenocide
#IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal #IsraeliIsAPetroState #BritishGas #PetroCriminals #ShellOil #BigOilAndGas #Oiligarchy #LevantBasin #Starvation #WarCrimes #StolenLand

Behind Israel’s ‘end game’ for Gaza: Theft of offshore gas reserves

By Betsey Piette November 14, 2023 In 1999, British Gas (BG) discovered the existence of natural gas in the Gaza Marine fields, 20 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza, at a depth of 610 meters below the surface.

International Action Center

DoomsdaysCW Jan 6, 2025

Behind #Israel’s ‘end game’ for #Gaza: Theft of #OffshoreGas reserves

By Betsey Piette
November 14, 2023

"In 1999, #BritishGas (BG) discovered the existence of natural gas in the #GazaMarineFields, 20 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza, at a depth of 610 meters below the surface. Further exploration by BG through two successful wells — Gaza Marine 1 and Gaza Marine 2 — determined the field could contain up to 1 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. (EgyptOil-Gas.com, April 5, 2018)

[Fast forward to 2022...]

"On June 18, [2022], Israel gave preliminary approval for the development of a gas field off the coast of Gaza, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claiming progress would hinge on 'preserving the State of Israel’s security and diplomatic needs' and coordination with the Palestinian Authority and neighboring Egypt. At the same time, Hamas official Ismail Rudwan told Reuters: 'We reaffirm that our people in Gaza have the rights to their natural resources.'

"Two months before Oct. 7, [2023], the Pentagon began building a $35.8 million troop facility in Israel’s #NegevDesert, 20 miles from Gaza, allegedly as a radar site to monitor for missile attacks on Israel. The base is part of a 'secret' U.S. military presence in Israel. (The Intercept, Oct. 27)

"Since Oct. 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made it clear that Israel intends to kill as many Palestinians as possible in order to pressure others to leave the Gaza Strip and move to the Sinai in Egypt.

"Netanyahu has been adamant in refusing to order a cease-fire to let in aid to stop the horrific genocide being carried out in Gaza.

"The people of Gaza are well aware, as their grandparents experienced with the 1948 Nakba, that once Israelis forcefully remove Palestinians from Palestinian land, returning is a near impossibility.

"Israel’s genocidal war on Palestinians has not stopped the Israeli regime’s plans for further oil and gas exploration. On Oct. 29, Israel announced that it awarded 12 licenses for exploring additional offshore natural gas fields to six companies, including #BritishPetroleum and Italian energy giant #Eni. These awards show that Israel has no intention of letting the genocide it is carrying out against Gaza’s people interfere with its ongoing theft of Palestinian resources."