Ambassador Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of June holds press briefing at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States on June 01, 2023 [Selçuk Acar – Anadolu Agency]
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed its readiness to contribute troops to a multinational “stabilisation” mission in Gaza, marking the first nation to declare such an intention.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has expressed its readiness to contribute troops to a multinational “stabilisation” mission in Gaza, marking the first nation to declare such an intention.
This development, reported by the Financial Times, represents a significant step in addressing Israel’s lack of strategic planning for Gaza, which many critics view as a military campaign driven by vengeance without a clear objective, other than the mass killing of Palestinians.
Lana Nusseibeh, the UAE’s Special Envoy to the Foreign Ministry, stated that the UAE could deploy its forces if the US leads the mission and supports steps towards the establishment of a Palestinian State. “The UAE could consider being part of the stabilisation forces alongside Arab and international partners” Nusseibeh said, adding that it would only do so “at the invitation of a reformed PA, or a PA led by an empowered prime minister”. Nusseibeh stressed that “The United States should have the lead on this for it to succeed.”
The UAE’s position comes as Israel finds itself in a strategic deadlock, having failed to decisively defeat Hamas. Critics had warned, from the outset, about the dangers of a vengeance-driven war lacking clear political objectives. The current situation leaves Israel with the grim option of continuing its mass slaughter of Palestinians, further escalating the humanitarian crisis.
Details about the nature of the multinational force, whether military or police, are still under discussion. The US has been advocating for Arab states to join such a force as part of its post-war plans, though it does not plan to deploy American troops.
Previously, Egypt and Morocco have been mentioned as potential contributors to a stabilisation force, with the Arab League calling for a UN peacekeeping mission in Gaza and the West Bank until a Palestinian State is realised. However, the feasibility of deploying such a force is fraught with challenges and contingent on Israel’s actions.
Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has consistently opposed the establishment of a Palestinian State and any significant role for the PA in Gaza, insisting that Israel retains overall security control. This stance complicates efforts to establish a multinational force without Israel’s cooperation.
Source: The Palestine Chronicle
