The UAE is reportedly seeking full authority over civil administration in Gaza during the ongoing negotiations with the US and Israel over the second phase of the Trump ceasefire plan.
Per Channel 12, Abu Dhabi is set to invest billions in rebuilding the Strip in return for control of civilian affairs within the territory.
This would include domestic commerce, logistics and trade. Armed security forces, backed by private American contractors, would be deployed to the Strip in order to protect civilian infrastructure.
The report adds that Israel, a close regional ally of the UAE, backs the plan, with draft versions already exchanged with Washington.
As part of the deal, the UAE would agree to purchase all imported goods for Gaza from Israel and use Israeli contractors in the supply chain.
These goods would then be gathered at existing aid hubs, which will be converted into logistics centres, and distributed for sale.
The proposal, as reported, would appear to be a significant departure from the Trump 20-point plan and the Board of Peace initiative, which envisioned a technocratic committee of Palestinians overseeing civil affairs, with security provided by an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) drawn from several partner nations.
However, there has been significant pushback from Israel on both points, particularly with the appointment of a former Palestinian Authority deputy minister to lead the technocratic committee (despite Washington’s promise that there would be no Hamas or PA involvement) and the prospect of Turkish and Qatari participation in the ISF.
During a visit to Israel last year, US Vice President Vance guaranteed that Jerusalem would have a veto over any troops stationed on Israeli soil.
Significantly, though, he did not rule out the deployment of soldiers from Qatar or Turkey, both of whom have been involved in mediation efforts with Hamas, in Gaza.
The new plan would also be likely to impact relations with Saudi Arabia, long reported to be considering diplomatic normalisation with Israel, due to its enmity with the UAE.
The two Gulf states have effectively been fighting a proxy war in Yemen by backing opposing sides of the civil war there.
Last month, Riyadh recorded a significant victory in that conflict with the resignation of Yemen’s prime minister, Salem Saleh bin Braik, and a purge of UAE-linked ministers, with the foreign minister (and former ambassador to Saudi Arabia), Dr Shaya Mohsen Zindani, taking over the leadership of the country’s internationally recognised government.
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