UAE Lobbying Efforts Against Arab League’s Gaza Plan as Tensions Escalate

The UAE is lobbying the Trump administration to reject an Arab League Gaza plan supported by Egypt, intensifying regional competition over Gaza’s governance. This development poses a dilemma for Egyptian relations and raises concerns about the future of US-Egyptian military aid. The UAE’s criticism centers on Hamas’s influence, contrasting with Egyptian support for the Arab League’s framework.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is actively lobbying the Trump administration against an Arab League-backed Gaza plan drafted by Egypt, according to US and Egyptian officials. This opposition underscores escalating tensions and competition among Arab states concerning future governance and reconstruction in Gaza, particularly over the influence of Hamas. The UAE’s strategy introduces complications for Egypt, which also supports Mohammed Dahlan, a former Fatah official, for leadership in Gaza.

UAE Ambassador to the US, Yousef al-Otaiba, has engaged with President Trump’s aides to persuade them to apply pressure on Egypt to accept the resettlement of displaced Palestinians. Otaiba previously expressed an absence of alternatives to such displacement following Trump’s earlier statements. Given Hamas’s connections to the Muslim Brotherhood, which is reviled by the UAE, this lobbying represents a significant geopolitical maneuver.

The UAE has criticized Egypt’s Gaza plan for not adequately addressing the disarmament of Hamas. Egyptian officials assert the plan guarantees governance by the Palestinian Authority while proposing a collaborative security force and the potential deployment of UN peacekeepers in Gaza. Although Hamas has accepted the plan, Israel opposes international involvement in the region.

Recent US ceasefire efforts in Gaza are faltering as fighting has resumed, leading to international concerns. The Trump administration is perceived as supportive of Israel’s aggressive stance, especially following communications between US officials and Hamas representatives regarding potential truce negotiations.

In summary, the UAE’s lobbying against the Arab League’s Gaza plan illustrates the complexities of regional politics, emphasizing the rivalry between Arab states to exert influence over Gaza’s future. The actions of the UAE, backed by strategic relationships within the Trump administration, pose significant diplomatic challenges for Egypt. The ongoing violence and stalled ceasefire efforts further complicate the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the surrounding geopolitical landscape.

Original Source: www.middleeasteye.net