The United Arab Emirates clearly stated that it would not support the “day after” strategy of Israel for the Gaza Strip unless there is a Palestinian state is to be created. On X, UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan spoke clearly: “The United Arab Emirates is not prepared to support the day after the war in Gaza without a Palestinian state.
For instance, in May, when Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister, presented a post-war plan for Gaza Palestinians, he said that the area would experience ‘unparalleled prosperity’ if they implemented his plan. The plan entails major commitments in areas like ports, solar energy, electric car manufacturing, and the newly discovered GAS fields in Gaza. This strategy is divided into three phases lasting until 2035 from a “victory date. ”
The plan suggests that the Palestinians in Gaza would manage the project under Israel’s occupation. At the same time, a group of Arab countries, including UAE, KSA, Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan, and Morocco, would supervise it. In return, Abdullah accused Netanyahu of imposing this step and any similar measures, charging that he “did not possess legal standing to implement this move or undertake any like measures.” UAE was not informed of Gaza’s intentions.
Moreover, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs denounced the UAE’s stance, stating that it would not support any move that would serve as a mask to Israel’s military from Gaza. The statement reiterated that assistance would be provided only where a Palestinian government is formed based on the Palestinian people’s vision, non-corrupt and autonomous.
At the end of July, the UAE emphasized the need for the creation of a so-called ‘temporary international mission’ to deal with the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as soon as the fighting stops. The mission should be invited formally by the Palestinian government, Said UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Reem Al Hashimy; however, the mission’s purpose should be to reunify the occupied West Bank under the Palestinian authority.
With the conflict now on its eleventh month, at least 41,182 Palestinians have been killed and more than 95,280 injured by Israel’s military operations in response to Hamas attacks on October 7th, which claimed 1,139 lives in southern Israel.
