UAE could consider joining Gaza multinational force, foreign ministry envoy says

The United Arab Emirates could  join a multinational peacekeeping force in Gaza after the war, a foreign ministry official has told the Financial Times (FT).

"The UAE could consider being part of the stabilisation forces alongside Arab and international partners…at the invitation of a reformed PA [Palestinian Authority], or a PA led by an empowered prime minister," special envoy to the Emirati foreign ministry, Lana Nusseibeh, told the publication.

Nusseibeh’s comments to FT come as Israel continues to pound Gaza, where it has killed over 38,000 people, mostly civilians since October.

The UAE normalised relations with Israel in 2020 as part of the controversial Abraham Accords. The two states have worked to strengthen bilateral ties since, especially in defence and intelligence.

Late in June, a report in the The Times of Israel cited three unnamed official sources alleging that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had informed Arab counterparts during his last visit to the region that he had received support from Egypt and the UAE to join a post-war security force.

But before these reports, Cairo had refuted the claims, saying it had not approved any deployment of forces to Gaza.

Several ideas have floated about the 'day after' in Gaza.

The US has previously supported uniting the Gaza Strip and the Israeli-occupied West Bank under a single, "revitalised" Palestinian authority and the Arab League has called for a UN peacekeeping force to deploy in the enclave until a Palestinian state is established.

But Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his ruling far-right coalition have repeatedly ruled out a Palestinian authority in the Gaza Strip, especially one that involves Hamas. They also refuse granting Palestinians statehood.

Hamas in turn has refused being cast aside in any future plan for the enclave.

Israel’s relations with Egypt and Jordan – its Arab neighbours with which it shares ties – have also worsened since October, putting more uncertainty over a multinational force with Arab partners.

Ceasefire talks being led by the US, Egypt and Qatar have also continued to stumble upon hurdles.