The UAE is lobbying the Trump administration to reject an Arab League plan for Gaza, which Egypt drafted. This conflict reflects deeper rivalries among Arab states, with the UAE criticizing the plan as advantageous to Hamas. The tensions are influencing US-Egyptian relations amid concerns over military aid and regional stability, while Mohammed Dahlan’s role in Gaza governance emerges as a crucial factor.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is actively lobbying the Trump administration to reject the Arab League’s post-war plan for Gaza, developed by Egypt and supported by various entities. This conflict illustrates increasing competition among Arab states regarding future governance in Gaza and differing views on Hamas’s influence there. The UAE’s maneuvers are creating tension with Egypt, which generally aligns with the same Palestinian figure, Mohammed Dahlan, whom both countries prefer for Gaza’s leadership.
UAE officials are leveraging their close connections to the White House to challenge the Gaza plan, describing it as impractical and criticizing Egypt for potentially granting too much power to Hamas. The UAE’s ambassador to the US, Yousef al-Otaiba, has reportedly engaged with US officials to press Egypt to accommodate forcibly displaced Palestinians. Otaiba has suggested that they see no alternate solution to Trump’s previous calls for displacing Palestinians outside Gaza.
The UAE disapproves of Egypt’s Gaza plan for not specifying methods to disarm and remove Hamas. Egyptian authorities assert that their blueprint clearly designates governance under the Palestinian Authority and potentially allows for UN peacekeepers. While Hamas has shown willingness to accept the plan, Israel opposes internationalizing the Gaza conflict.
Tensions escalated further when a ceasefire brokered by the US in January fell apart, bringing Gaza close to another outbreak of conflict. Israel’s recent military actions have resulted in significant casualties. The US is considering a strategy requiring Hamas to release captives in exchange for a temporary ceasefire extension, though Hamas demands a permanent end to hostilities.
The Trump administration’s support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza and counterproductive meetings with Hamas have led to discomfort and disappointment among US allies. The administration also seems ambivalent regarding the Arab League’s post-war Gaza plan, with US envoys failing to decisively endorse it during diplomatic visits.
Concerns have arisen regarding how Emirati influence may affect US-Egypt relations. US officials have indicated that the UAE’s actions might lead to reduced military aid for Egypt, which is under scrutiny for its handling of the Gaza border. Ongoing military aid from the US to Egypt, crucial since the Camp David Accords, has been previously threatened. The American administration is increasingly critical of the Egyptian military’s role in border security, which has strained relations.
Both Egypt and the UAE appear to view Mohammed Dahlan as a pivotal figure in reorganizing Gaza after the conflict. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’s gestures toward Dahlan underline this dynamic, as the UAE openly supports his future leadership role. However, while they collaborate on Palestinian issues, tensions persist over their involvement in the Sudanese civil war and differing approaches to governance.
The complexities surrounding the US’s position, including diplomatic pressure on Egypt, have caused unease among State Department officials, especially given endorsements for the Gaza plan from other major nations. President Trump’s interactions with Middle Eastern leaders have also shaped this discourse, indicating a cautious repositioning away from aggressive stances.
In conclusion, the UAE’s lobbying efforts against the Arab League’s Gaza plan depict a nuanced geopolitical struggle in which Arab nations assert their influence. The impacts of these dynamics are likely to reverberate through US, Egyptian, and broader regional relations, demonstrating the delicate balance of diplomatic power and strategic interests in a volatile context.
The lobbying by the UAE against the Arab League’s Gaza plan highlights significant geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly between the UAE and Egypt. This rivalry influences the future governance of Gaza, as both nations support differing strategies involving Palestinian leadership. Additionally, developments regarding US military aid to Egypt, alongside the emergence of Mohammed Dahlan as a key player, underscore the intricate nature of regional alliances and conflicts. The shifting US stance and its implications for Middle Eastern diplomacy further complicate this already volatile scenario.
Original Source: www.middleeasteye.net
