Secret Meetings Exclude Palestinians: What Is the UAE Plotting for Gaza?

As Palestinian factions agree on forming a temporary national unity government following the aggression on Gaza, the UAE is holding secret meetings with “Israel” and the United States to discuss plans for the day after the war in Gaza.

The aggression, which began on October 7, 2023, has resulted in the martyrdom of over 39,000 Palestinians and injured more than 90,000 others, with Israeli attacks on the strip continuing unabated.

From the onset, there has been talk of suspicious Emirati schemes aimed at ensuring the defeat of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which launched Operation al-Aqsa Flood, despite internal Palestinian attempts to end the internal division and plan for Gaza's future post-war.

Beijing Agreement 

In an unprecedented move sponsored by China, Beijing announced a national reconciliation between Palestinian factions to end the division and form a temporary national unity government. This was declared in a statement by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on July 23, 2024.

The Ministry announced in its statement that the Beijing Agreement was signed at the closing ceremony of a reconciliation dialogue between 14 Palestinian factions hosted by Beijing from July 21 to 23.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirmed the Palestinian factions' agreement to form a temporary national reconciliation government to manage post-war Gaza, one of the points under discussion by various parties for months.

Wang Yi emphasized that reconciliation is an internal matter for the Palestinian factions, but at the same time, it cannot be achieved without the support of the international community.

He renewed the call for a comprehensive, permanent, and sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, stressing efforts to support Palestinian self-governance and the recognition of a Palestinian state at the United Nations.

In a joint statement, the Palestinian factions said they agreed to achieve comprehensive national unity, including all forces within the framework of the Palestine Liberation Organization, adhering to the establishment of an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, according to United Nations resolutions, and ensuring the right of return as per resolution 194.

The statement affirmed the Palestinian people's right to resist the Israeli occupation and end it in accordance with international laws, the UN Charter, and the right of Palestinians to self-determination and struggle to achieve it by all available means.

It mentioned forming a temporary national unity government by consensus of the factions and a decision from the President (Mahmoud Abbas) based on the applicable Palestinian Basic Law, with the government exercising its powers and authorities over all Palestinian territories, confirming the unity of the West Bank, Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip.

It pointed out that the intended government will start unifying all institutions in the Palestinian state's territories, initiating the reconstruction of the strip, and preparing for general elections under the supervision of the central election commission as soon as possible according to the approved election law.

The factions also agreed to resist and thwart attempts to displace Palestinians from their land and affirm the illegality of settlements and settlement expansion, according to UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and the International Court of Justice's opinion.

However, the Beijing agreement was met with Israeli rejection by its Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, who stated that a national unity government would not happen because Hamas rule would be crushed.

He accused President Abbas of embracing Hamas killers instead of rejecting terrorism, revealing his true face, as he put it.

Secret Meeting

In tandem with the reconciliation agreement, Axios reported details of a secret meeting held in Abu Dhabi on July 18 between officials from the United States, “Israel,” and the United Arab Emirates to discuss the plans for the post-war period in Gaza.

The American website, in a report published on July 23, cited two Israeli officials stating that the meeting was hosted by UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed and attended by Brett McGurk, Senior Advisor to President Joe Biden, and Tom Sullivan, Advisor at the State Department, from the American side.

From the Israeli side, the meeting was attended by Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, a close associate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, along with two senior military officials working on Israeli Occupation’s proposals for the post-war plans for Gaza.

According to Axios, the meeting indicates that Netanyahu has begun to recognize the need for a realistic plan on how to govern Gaza after the war.

One day before the Israeli officials arrived in Abu Dhabi, the UAE presented their post-war proposals in an op-ed by Lana Nusseibeh, former UAE Ambassador to the United Nations, published in the Financial Times.

In her article, Nusseibeh called for the establishment of a temporary international mission in Gaza, claiming that this mission would address the humanitarian crisis, establish law and order, and lay the foundation for governance.

She also separately told the Financial Times on the day of the tri-party meeting in Abu Dhabi that the UAE would be willing to be part of this international force and send its troops on the ground, but laid out several fundamental conditions.

Among the conditions were that the international force must enter Gaza at the official request of the Palestinian Authority (PA). The latter must undertake meaningful reforms and be led by a new Prime Minister with powers and independence.

The Israeli government will need to allow the Palestinian Authority to play a role in governing Gaza and approve a political process based on a two-state solution. The United States would play a leading role in any post-war initiative.

Axios noted that the Emiratis want to be part of a solution for Gaza that does not include Hamas, but they also have strong reservations about the current Palestinian Authority leadership.

The American news website pointed out that Netanyahu wants the Emiratis to be part of the post-war plan for Gaza, wishing for them to send troops, fund reconstruction, and reform the education system in Gaza to remove “extremism” from the population.

However, Netanyahu is not ready at this moment to end the war and also rejects any official role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, as well as resuming the political process based on a two-state solution, according to the site.

Israeli War Minister Yoav Gallant had presented a plan for Gaza months ago, which was very similar to the Emirati proposal, but Netanyahu had completely rejected it, according to Axios.

Israeli officials told the American news website that Netanyahu now shows greater willingness, at least secretly, to support and discuss Gallant's plan with the United States and the UAE.

An Israeli official explained that Netanyahu attacked and obstructed Gallant's plan for several months, but has now taken it, translated it into English, and given it to Dermer to present to the Emiratis and Americans as if it were his own idea.

Emirati Conspiracy

The UAE's role in the aggression against Gaza, along with the secret meetings it holds with the Israeli Occupation and its primary supporter, the United States, has faced significant criticism from Arab political writers and experts. They have described its role as "conspiratorial" in the Palestinian issue.

Commenting on the secret meeting in Abu Dhabi, Algerian researcher and political analyst Mohamed Dakhouche criticized the UAE sharply. In a post on X on July 23, he said, “People in Gaza are dying and shedding their blood cheaply for the sake of Allah, and these people are conspiring with utter brazenness.”

On the same front, Palestinian writer and political analyst Yasser Zaatreh commented on X on July 24, stating, "Those who chased the Arab Spring are now targeting Gaza's resistance. You know the story: it's the political Islam syndrome. This emerged from the dominance of Islamists on the stage. The real target is any voice calling for reform, regardless of its color."

Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas' political bureau who was assassinated this morning in an Israeli airstrike targeting his house in Tehran, stated in an interview with Anadolu Agency in April 2024 that the administration of Gaza should be determined by Palestinian will. He welcomed any Arab or Islamic force if its mission is to help the Palestinian people achieve liberation rather than protect the Israeli Occupation.

In a similar vein, the Hebrew Channel Kan reported on July 23 that Arab countries are split on their views regarding the solution for Gaza in the wake of the ongoing conflict.

There are differing opinions on whether to maintain the current authority or dismantle its leadership.

The channel highlighted that a key point of contention is the composition of the Palestinian Authority that will govern the sector, as well as Hamas' role in the post-war period.

It was noted that Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and the Palestinian Authority had submitted a document to the U.S. government about three months ago outlining the general framework for the post-war period.

"There is no clear agreement on the finer details," according to a high-ranking Arab official (identity not disclosed) who spoke to the Hebrew channel.

"The unresolved issues include the Palestinian Authority and its governance structure for Gaza. While Egypt and Jordan support the current structure of the Authority, Saudi Arabia and the UAE seek significant changes."

The official added that another issue is Hamas' role in the post-war scenario.

He noted that Qatar, being closest to Hamas among the countries, will not quickly relinquish its role in Gaza, unlike Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which wish to completely eliminate Hamas.

The channel also pointed out that the UAE had recently announced its support for establishing a temporary multinational force in Gaza and integrating into it as a temporary military force, moving towards implementing the two-state solution.

"Specifically, there seems to be more agreement that no country will agree to send forces to Gaza solely to meet the needs of the Israeli military, but only as part of a broader solution that also includes the West Bank," the Arab official said.

The channel noted that U.S. officials have been traveling between the regional countries, partly to create consensus among the concerned Arab nations regarding the post-Gaza scenario, which is not necessarily an easy task.

Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi had previously announced Jordan's rejection of any discussion about managing Gaza after the war through either Arab or non-Arab forces.

In a panel discussion held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum special meeting in Riyadh in April 2024, he added that the proposed post-war scenarios are unrealistic and unacceptable, and that Hamas did not start the conflict; Hamas is an idea and ideas never die.