UAE, US plan to manage Gaza post-Israel exit, focusing on reformed Palestinian Authority

UAE, US Discuss Role in Gaza’s Post-War Administration, Focus on Reformed Palestinian Authority

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has begun discussions with Israel and the United States (US) about the possibility of participating in a post-war interim administration of Gaza, sources familiar with the matter said.

The proposed plan would see the UAE, the US and possibly other countries oversee the administration, security and reconstruction of Gaza until the Palestinian Authority (PA) takes over. The talks, reported by Reuters, included behind-the-scenes discussions among diplomats and Western officials.

The goal of the talks is to calm the tense atmosphere in Gaza after the anticipated Israeli military invasion. The UAE has emphasized the necessity of empowering a reformed PA under a roadmap towards an independent Palestinian state, which includes Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, even if no formal written plan or agreement has been reached.

“The UAE will not participate in any plan that involves significant reform of the Palestinian Authority, its empowerment and the establishment of a credible roadmap towards a Palestinian state,” a UAE official told Reuters.

The Palestinian Authority, established under the 1993-1995 Oslo Accords, was initially granted limited authority over the West Bank and Gaza. The UAE’s position, however, emphasizes how urgently the PA needs fundamental changes in order to be able to rule the Palestinian lands.

According to sources, Emirati authorities have suggested that private military contractors may be included in a peacekeeping force in Gaza.

Despite the proposal’s goal of stabilizing the region, Western nations are concerned because of the controversy surrounding private military contractors, which includes claims of human rights violations in past deployments by international governments.

The UAE’s position as a unique security partner of the United States and one of the few Arab countries to maintain diplomatic relations with Israel places it in a significant mediation role.

However, the lack of comprehensive plans and Israel’s opposition to some aspects of the UAE’s argument, such as a united Palestinian state governing Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem, underscore the complexity of the situation.