Is a small country about to secure Gaza?
What the future holds for the Gaza Strip after the war remains unclear. Israel has repeatedly ruled out a permanent occupation. According to the army, the United Arab Emirates could assist in securing the coastal region, but only under certain conditions.
The United Arab Emirates could potentially help secure the Gaza Strip militarily after the war, according to a media report. However, this would depend on the Palestinian Authority (PA) being established as the responsible and governing body in the area, Israel's Army Radio reported, citing informed sources. The Emirates would only be willing to take such a step at the PA's request.
The Emirates became the first Gulf state to establish diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020. Speculation has been ongoing about the potential role of this small but influential country in the Gaza Strip after the war. In May, Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed clarified that the Emirates would not participate in any civilian administration or plans to "provide cover for Israel's presence in the Gaza Strip." However, following US mediation, the Emirates appear to be showing more willingness to participate in a potential military operation to secure peace in Gaza.
Lana Nussaibah, the special envoy of the Emirati Foreign Minister, hinted at this in a guest article for the Financial Times last month. She wrote that the first step towards ending the war would be a "temporary international deployment that responds to the humanitarian crisis, restores law and order, lays the foundation for government leadership, and paves the way" for a united Gaza and West Bank under a legitimate Palestinian authority.
Other Arab countries' potential involvement in militarily securing Gaza has also been speculated. Israel Army Radio reported that Israel has asked several states to participate, but Egypt, Morocco, and the Emirates have all declined, stating that they do not want to appear as Israel's helpers or an executing occupying power in the coastal region.
The involvement of the United Arab Emirates in securing Gaza following conflicts and wars is contingent on the establishment of the Palestinian Authority, as per Israel's Army Radio sources. Words of support for such a role have been hinted by Lana Nussaibah, the special envoy of the Emirati Foreign Minister, discussing the need for a temporary international deployment to restore peace and order in the region.
