UAE Engages in Talks with US and Israel on Provisional Gaza Administration Post 15-Month War

Jan 7, 2025, 11:28 AM

The United Arab Emirates has engaged in discussions with Israel and the United States about participating in a provisional administration of post-war Gaza until a reformed Palestinian Authority can assume control. These talks, which have been reported by Reuters, involve the possibility of the UAE and the U.S., along with other nations, temporarily overseeing the governance, security, and reconstruction of Gaza following the withdrawal of Israeli forces. The discussions were informed by a dozen diplomats and Western officials. The UAE, a close security partner of the U.S. and one of the few Arab nations with diplomatic ties to Israel, is advocating for significant reforms within the Palestinian Authority to govern Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem under an independent Palestinian state. However, Israel has publicly opposed this vision. The UAE has stated it will not participate in any plan that does not include substantial reform of the Palestinian Authority, its empowerment, and a credible roadmap toward a Palestinian state. The discussions also touched on the potential use of private military contractors for peacekeeping in Gaza post-war, a proposal that has raised concerns among Western nations due to past allegations against such contractors. This comes after 15 months of war, sparked by Hamas's attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed opposition to the current form of the Palestinian Authority governing Gaza. The UAE has suggested former Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, a U.S.-educated former World Bank official, as a potential leader for a reformed Palestinian Authority. Current Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa has pledged to implement reforms within the Palestinian Authority.