UAE says it will not 'provide cover' for Israel's post-war presence in Gaza

The United Arab Emirates Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan blasted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday after the Israeli leader had suggested the Emiratis could assist a future post-war administration in the Gaza Strip.

"The UAE stresses that the Israeli prime minister does not have any legal capacity to take this step, and the UAE refuses to be drawn into any plan aimed at providing cover for the Israeli presence in the Gaza Strip," the Emirati top diplomat wrote on 𝕏.

In a recent interview, Netanyahu suggested that moderate Arab Gulf states, such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia could play a vital role in rebuilding Gaza after the war.

UAE and Saudi leaders previously indicated they are prepared to assist Gaza after the war if it is done within a framework that leads towards the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

The Emirati foreign minister, therefore, reiterated his position to assist in various ways once a Palestinian government is established that “meets the hopes and aspirations” of the local population and is characterized by “integrity, competence and independence.”

The tension between Israel and the UAE's visions for Gaza's future follows the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations in 2020 under the Abraham Accords. Despite this diplomatic progress, Netanyahu continues to oppose a two-state solution, mainly due to the security implications for Israelis, particularly since the terror attack on Oct. 7. Political pressures, both domestic and international, and the current right-wing members in the government, who are against an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, also play a role in the prime minister's stance.

In December, Netanyahu pledged that neither Hamas nor its rival, the Fatah party, which controls the PA, would rule Gaza after the war.

“Gaza will be neither Hamastan nor Fatahstan, Netanyahu vowed.

“After the great sacrifice of our civilians and our soldiers, I will not allow the entry into Gaza of those who educate for terrorism, support terrorism and finance terrorism,” the premier added, likely referring to the PA's support of anti-Israel terrorism and incitement against Jews.

Some far-right ministers in Netanyahu's government have called for the re-establishment of Jewish communities in Gaza, despite polls showing that most Israelis are not in support of the move.

The Biden administration has insisted that a “reformed” Palestinian Authority should eventually assume responsibility for the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu has instead argued that local Gaza officials without terror ties and no affiliation with Hamas or Fatah should govern the Strip with Arab and international assistance.

The UAE established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020 through the American-brokered Abraham Accords under the former Trump administration. The two countries quickly developed close ties in fields such as tourism, commerce, and science. Since the Hamas-initiated war in Gaza began on Oct. 7, ties between Israel and the UAE have been strained.

Earlier in May, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem released a plan entitled, “From crisis to prosperity – a plan for the transformation of the Gaza Strip from Iranian aggression to the moderate axis.” The ambitious plan envisions transforming Gaza into a peaceful and economically thriving, “Singapore on the Mediterranean.”