Hidden Meeting between Israel, UAE, and US over Gaza War Revealed

The American website Axios disclosed that the United States, Israel, and the UAE conducted a private meeting in Abu Dhabi to discuss a “day after” strategy for the Gaza war and methods to aid the Israeli army in dismantling the Palestinian resistance.

According to two Israeli officials, the meeting took place last Thursday in Abu Dhabi, where Washington, Israel, and the UAE deliberated on post-war plans for Gaza.

According to the website, “The meeting indicates that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has begun to realize the need for a realistic plan for how to govern Gaza after the war.”

Israeli officials said that UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed hosted the meeting.

From the American side, Brett McGurk, President Biden’s advisor on Middle East affairs, attended the meeting. Representing Israel was Ron Dermer, the Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs and a close associate of Netanyahu.

The officials revealed that two senior Israeli defense officials, who had been working on Israel’s proposals for post-war plans for the Gaza Strip, accompanied Dermer to Abu Dhabi.

Additionally, a few days ago, the UAE publicly declared its involvement in Israel’s plans to maintain control over the Gaza Strip by indicating its willingness to participate in multinational forces after the Israeli conflict, now in its tenth month.

One day before the Israeli delegation arrived in Abu Dhabi, the Emiratis outlined their proposals for post-war Gaza in an opinion piece by Abu Dhabi Today’s special envoy, Lana Nusseibeh.

Nusseibeh promoted the deployment of a temporary international mission in Gaza, a proposal that was swiftly rejected by Palestinian factions. These factions affirmed that they would regard any Arab or international force as an occupying force.

An Emirati official separately informed the Financial Times on the day of the tripartite meeting in Abu Dhabi that the UAE would be prepared to contribute to this international force and deploy its troops on the ground. However, Abu Dhabi insists that the international force should enter Gaza based on an official invitation from the Palestinian Authority.

Furthermore, the UAE demands that the Palestinian Authority enact significant reforms and be led by a new prime minister with genuine authority and independence. The United States is expected to play a leadership role in any post-war initiative.

Axios highlighted that the Emiratis want to be part of the solution in Gaza that will not include Hamas, but they also have strong reservations about the current leadership of the Palestinian Authority.

During a meeting held last June between several Arab ministers and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Abu Zeid described the Palestinian leadership as “Ali Baba and the forty thieves.”

The Emiratis informed the Biden administration that the new Palestinian Prime Minister, Muhammad Mustafa, is a close associate of Abbas and therefore will not be independent and will not carry out the necessary reforms.

The Emiratis advocated for the appointment of alternative candidates, such as former Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad—a vocal critic of Abbas—instead of Abbas.

Acknowledging the strength of the bilateral alliance, Netanyahu expressed a desire for the Emiratis to be included in the post-war plan for Gaza.

The Israeli Prime Minister wants the UAE to send forces, and pay for the reconstruction and reform of the education system in Gaza to “de-radicalize” the population.

But Netanyahu is not ready at the moment to end the war. He also rejects any official role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza and does not wish to resume the political process based on the two-state solution.

Netanyahu’s Defense Minister Yoav Galant presented a plan for the next day in Gaza months ago that was very similar to the Emirati proposal, but Netanyahu immediately rejected it.

Israeli officials said that Netanyahu is now showing greater willingness, at least in private, to support Gallant’s plan and discuss it with the United States and the UAE.

An Israeli official said, “Netanyahu attacked the Gallant plan and obstructed it for months, but now he took it, translated it into English, and gave it to Dermer to present it to the Emiratis and Americans as if it were his invention.”

The Biden administration has been pressuring Netanyahu for months to seriously discuss the next day’s plan, especially as efforts continue to try to reach an agreement on prisoners and a ceasefire.

The UAE, which established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020, has kept up its communication with Israel despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Many Arab officials are wary of the implications of entering Gaza alongside Israeli forces and the dangers of becoming entangled in the local insurgency.