- January 8, 2025
- 5:17 pm
- Middle East
The United Arab Emirates is holding secret negotiations with Israel and the United States regarding the future of the Gaza Strip after the completion of the Israeli military operation against the Hamas group (recognized as a terrorist group by the US and EU).
According to Reuters, at the negotiations there are proposals to create an interim administration in Gaza under international control, including the participation of the United States and the UAE. The administration could manage the sector until a reformed Palestinian National Authority can establish its own power structures there.
Currently, Gaza is partly under the control of the Israeli military, partly – as before, under the control of the Hamas group, which has ruled the territory since 2007, first winning elections and then breaking up with its opponents, including the structures of the Palestinian National Authority, which retains power in the West Bank. The Israeli operation has been ongoing since October 7, 2023, in response to the Hamas attack on Israel. Many settlements in Gaza were destroyed, hundreds of thousands of people were forced to leave their homes, tens of thousands were killed or injured (these data are provided by the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, without specifying how many of the dead and wounded were militants; these statistics have not been independently confirmed).
An interim administration could manage Gaza's reconstruction and security efforts, according to Reuters. The conditions for its creation are the withdrawal of Israeli troops and the deprivation of Hamas from power.
Israel, as noted, does not yet have a clear strategy for the future of Gaza after the war, insisting, however, that Hamas should no longer govern the territory.
The UAE, which is one of the few Arab countries to have diplomatic relations with Israel, officially advocates the creation of an independent Palestinian state comprising the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem. This idea is supported by most countries in the world. The Emirati authorities see the creation of a temporary administration in Gaza as a step towards achieving this goal. However, it is unclear how Hamas will be removed from power. Israel also has not officially expressed agreement with the idea of creating an independent Palestinian state.
The US State Department confirmed that Washington is participating in discussions with partners about the future of Gaza, without specifying details.
Through the mediation of Qatar, Egypt and the United States, negotiations continue on a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages captured by militants. Progress has been reported in negotiations, but no agreement has yet been reached. These talks, however, do not discuss Gaza's post-war future.
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