UAE Aligns with Israel’s Strategy to Extend Gaza Occupation
The UAE has openly declared its support for Israel’s plans to continue the occupation of the Gaza Strip, stating its willingness to join multinational forces following ten months of the ongoing Israeli conflict.
The concept of creating an international force to perform specific tasks in Gaza post-war is a key component of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s strategy to prolong the conflict and maintain the occupation of the Strip, a plan opposed by Palestinian factions.
The American Financial Times newspaper highlighted that the UAE has become the first country to announce its readiness to deploy forces on the ground in the Gaza Strip at a time when Arab countries and the West are struggling to develop a workable plan for the post-war period in Gaza.
Lana Nusseibeh, special envoy of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the Financial Times that Abu Dhabi discussed the plans with the United States as a step to fill the void in besieged Gaza and meet its huge humanitarian and reconstruction needs.
She said the UAE would only participate if invited by the Palestinian Authority, the Western-backed body that administers limited parts of the occupied West Bank.
The UAE, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020, has continued its engagement with the Jewish state despite the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza. Discussions are still underway regarding the specifics of the proposed mission, including whether it will involve a military or police force.
The United States has encouraged Arab countries to participate in a multinational force for Gaza as part of its post-war planning but is not expected to deploy US forces.
Diplomats previously said that Egypt, which shares a border with Gaza, and Morocco, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020, are also considering this plan.
Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected any moves toward establishing a Palestinian state. He rejects any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza and insists that Israel will maintain overall security control there.
Other Arab officials expressed fears of being seen as entering Gaza on the back of Israeli tanks, and the risks of being drawn into the insurgency fight there.
Recently, diplomatic sources disclosed that an Emirati-Israeli meeting took place in Brussels to coordinate propaganda efforts aimed at inciting Palestinian resistance factions in the Gaza Strip, particularly focusing on the post-Hamas era, in line with Israeli plans.
Sources informed Emirates Leaks that the meeting included six media figures and individuals presenting themselves as analysts and political researchers loyal to the UAE, who are directly and indirectly involved in programs and activities of media outlets funded by Abu Dhabi.
The sources reported that the meeting attendees included former Palestinian government minister Ibrahim Abrash, Palestinian journalist Ramadan Abu Jazar—regarded as a key UAE mercenary in incitement and propaganda—and Palestinian activist Bassem Eid, known for his support of normalization. Also present was journalist and Saudi intelligence member Abdul Aziz Al-Khamis, a significant figure in promoting normalization under Emirati directives.
On the other hand, Israeli officials and journalists participated in the meeting, led by Ofir Gendelman, the Prime Minister’s spokesman for Arab media.
The sources indicated that the meeting concentrated on coordinating Emirati-Israeli efforts to intensify plans for incitement and distortion against Palestinian resistance factions, addressing developments in the ongoing Israeli war in the Gaza Strip for the past ten months.
It was reported that Israel is collaborating with the UAE at this stage to implement propaganda strategies for the post-Hamas period in Gaza, increasing media pressure on the movement and promoting figures from inside and outside Gaza to support Israeli plans.
The sources reported that Israel is coordinating with the UAE at this stage in the propaganda plans for the post-Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip, increasing media pressure on the movement and presenting figures from inside and outside Gaza to try to take the lead in promoting the Israeli plans.
It also indicated that the meeting comes as a translation of a public visit he made on Thursday and a secret visit by Emirati officials to Israel last month to discuss the vision and media and propaganda plans.
