Arab Leaders Seek Clarity from Trump on Gaza‘s Future Amidst Shifting International Positions
as President Trump meets with leaders from Turkey,the United Arab Emirates,Egypt,Qatar,adn Saudi Arabia,Arab nations are pressing for a clear US position on the future of Gaza,notably regarding the Arab League’s proposals and a reconstruction plan developed by Tony Blair and Jared Kushner. These leaders are seeking assurances that the US dose not support the mass expulsion of palestinians, a concept Trump has at times alluded to.
The meetings come as several nations reassess their approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.The UK recently recognized a Palestinian state, basing its recognition provisionally on the 1949 armistice border – the “Green Line” – predating Israel’s 1967 capture of the West Bank and Gaza. France views the recognition of a Palestinian state as a rejection of Hamas, aligning with a recent UN General Assembly declaration condemning Hamas and calling for its disarmament. Germany, while maintaining that full recognition is a step best taken at the end of a peace process, acknowledges the need to begin such a process.
A key point of contention is the role of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Arab states are indicating they will only contribute to an international force in Gaza if the PA is given a future governing role. They are also demanding a roadmap towards a two-state solution that explicitly prohibits further Israeli settlements and annexation of the West Bank.
However, the US administration has shown limited support for the PA, having imposed sanctions on PA officials and denied its leader, Mahmoud Abbas, access to the UN. This stance contrasts with the Arab states’ view of the PA as a potential partner for peace.
Israel, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, insists on maintaining overall security control in Gaza, even alongside an Arab-led civilian administration.Internal divisions within Netanyahu’s coalition exist, with some factions advocating for the annexation of Gaza. Israel’s financial pressure on the PA, through withholding revenue transfers, has brought the Authority to the brink of bankruptcy.
The UAE, a signatory to the Abraham Accords brokered by Trump in 2020 – predicated on Israel refraining from West Bank annexation – has warned that annexation would undermine the goals of the accords. While not indicating a withdrawal from the agreements, UAE officials suggest regional integration plans would be rendered ineffective.
The UK’s Foreign Secretary,Yvette Cooper,has urged Israel to refrain from annexing parts of the West Bank in response to the recent recognitions of a Palestinian state.
