UAE announces willingness to send boots to Gaza on 'day after'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Financial Times
19 Jul 2024 21:13
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The UAE, with conditions of US leadership and a reformed Palestinian Authority, has expressed willingness to join a so-called 'multinational stabilization mission in Gaza.'

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Lana Zaki Nusseibeh, permanent representative to the United Nations of the United Arab Emirates, addresses members of the UN Security Council at United Nations headquarters, on October 30, 2023. (AP)

Foreign boots on the ground in the Gaza Strip have been suggested as a solution for "the day after" plans put forward under the auspices of the United States of America.

The plan comes under the pretense of a multinational "stabilization" mission for the Gaza Strip and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) becomes the first to publicly show willingness to deploy forces as part of this mission.

According to Financial Times, the UAE's announcement conditioned that the US provided a leadership role and supported efforts towards the establishment of a Palestinian State.

Lana Nusseibeh, special envoy to the UAE Foreign Ministry, told the Financial Times that "the UAE could consider being part of the stabilization forces alongside Arab and international partners at the invitation of a reformed PA, or a PA led by an empowered prime minister," adding that "The United States should have the lead on this for it to succeed."

Nusseibeh presented a plan for Gaza that includes three essential components: humanitarian aid to assist the Palestinian people in recovering from significant destruction, security measures, and political strategies to enable a "sustainable resolution of the conflict."

"The plan [for Gaza] has to be what we believe is needed: a humanitarian component to help the Palestinian people in Gaza recover from the terrible destruction; [and] a security component," Nusseibeh said. "And a political component that can facilitate a sustainable resolution of the conflict."

Moreover, Nusseibeh reaffirmed that Abu Dhabi sought to participate in the mission, we require US leadership, a reformed Palestinian Authority leadership, and a clear plan for reuniting Gaza and the West Bank "under a single Palestinian government."

"For us, what it would take [to participate in the mission] is US leadership, a reformed PA leadership, and a road map towards reuniting Gaza and the West Bank under a single Palestinian government," Nusseibeh said, adding, "We [also] would need to see a clear articulation, a signal or a commitment to Palestinian statehood through negotiations."

Hamas and PIJ call on the PLO to withdraw recognition of 'Israel'

Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad have called on the leadership of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) to withdraw its recognition of "Israel" in response to the Israeli occupation of Knesset's decision not to recognize a Palestinian state.

This call came during a meeting between the leaders of the two movements in Doha, Qatar, where Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh hosted Palestinian Islamic Jihad Secretary General Ziyad al-Nakhalah and his deputy Mohammad al-Hindi.

Moreover, the two sides discussed political and field developments related to Operation Al-Aqsa Flood.

The delegations emphasized the heroic resilience of the Palestinian people in facing the escalating bloodshed perpetrated by the Israeli occupation, the systematic destruction in the Gaza Strip, and attempts to obliterate all aspects of human life. They also highlighted the valiant performance of the Resistance, which continues to deliver significant blows to the occupation daily and has successfully thwarted the declared objectives of the occupation.

The leaders also discussed political efforts at all levels to halt the aggression against the Palestinian people, particularly those being undertaken by mediators. They affirmed that the Resistance delegation relies on the steadfastness of the people and their Resistance, along with the achievements made over the past ten months.

The delegations stressed that Operation Al-Aqsa Flood represents a significant national achievement, creating new realities in the struggle against the occupation that must be built upon and expanded in the upcoming phase.

In light of the Knesset's declared position rejecting the Palestinian people's right to establish an independent state, the leaders called for a unified national stance to confront these attempts to exterminate the Palestinian cause, building on the achievements of the recent battle.

The two movements urged the PLO leadership to withdraw recognition of "Israel", reaffirming the Palestinian people's right to establish their independent state with al-Quds as its capital and the right of return for the forcibly displaced and refugees.

The attendees praised the patience, resilience, and steadfastness of the Palestinian people in this struggle, emphasizing that these moments are "crucial in our national history."