UAE defends Israel ties as Gaza war concerns grow

In 2020, the United Arab Emirates made the controversial decision to normalize relations with the Israeli occupation, becoming one of the few Arab states to do so under the US-sponsored Abraham Accords. This move was met with opposition from the Arab and Islamic world, who view Israel as a colonial and terrorist entity occupying Palestinian land.

Despite maintaining these diplomatic ties during Israel’s ongoing aggression against Gaza, particularly since the October attacks, the UAE has tried to publicly balance its stance, showing symbolic support for Palestinians as outrage spreads across the Arab and Muslim world.

At the World Governments Summit in Dubai, Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE’s ambassador to the UN, defended her country’s cooperation with Israel, citing supposed “humanitarian” efforts. She pointed to a field hospital in Gaza and a maritime hospital stationed in Egypt’s Al-Arish port, as if these gestures could ease the unbearable suffering of Palestinians trapped in Gaza under constant bombardment.

But as Nusseibeh herself acknowledged, these efforts fall woefully short. “For the people of Gaza, it’s not enough. What we truly need is a humanitarian ceasefire and a path towards justice through a two-state solution,” she said.

Nusseibeh argued that dialogue with Israel is essential, asserting that “talking only to those who agree with us won’t lead to change.” However, this approach ignores the ongoing crimes committed by the occupation against the Palestinian people and the growing calls for accountability rather than empty dialogue.

The conflict, ignited on October 7 when Hamas launched an unprecedented strike on Israeli military targets, has since become the bloodiest war in Gaza’s history. In response, Israel unleashed a savage military campaign against the already besieged Strip, killing at least 41,000 people, the vast majority of whom are women and children.

In the face of this relentless aggression, the UAE, along with other Gulf states, warned Israel against escalating the situation further, particularly with a planned offensive on Rafah, where over 1.4 million displaced Palestinians have taken refuge. “The UAE is gravely concerned,” Nusseibeh said, cautioning that any attack on Rafah would have “unacceptable consequences.”

Despite these words, Nusseibeh’s calls for a two-state solution as a means to rebuild Gaza seem out of touch with the reality on the ground. The Israeli regime, under Prime Minister Netanyahu, has shown no real interest in advancing peace or recognizing Palestinian statehood. Yet, Nusseibeh claims that the UAE has invested billions of dollars in Gaza and the occupied West Bank over the years, only to see those investments obliterated by Israeli airstrikes and aggression.

Her remarks on the need for “confidence-building measures” with Israel ring hollow to those who have suffered under occupation for decades. True peace cannot be achieved by appeasing an aggressor, but by holding them accountable for their actions and restoring the stolen rights of the Palestinian people.