Hebrew media recently reported that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) sent 5,000 shells to Israel amidst its continued aggressive military campaign in Gaza. For over 14 months, Israel’s assault on Gaza has triggered growing international boycotts, including restrictions on military exports. This revelation has further spotlighted the UAE’s strengthening ties with Israel, which many see as aiding efforts to suppress Palestinian resistance.
The military correspondent of the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Yoav Zitun, disclosed that an unnamed Middle Eastern country supplied the ammunition to Israel, but insisted that the transfer take place via land routes rather than sea.
While Zitun refrained from naming the state, various Hebrew media sources have confirmed that the UAE was the supplier. The UAE’s expanding partnership with Israel aligns with its broader support for actions targeting the Palestinian resistance in Gaza.
Complex Logistics for Arms Delivery
Zitun shared that the shipment of 5,000 ammunition units involved strict conditions. The UAE required the arms to be transported solely by land, avoiding maritime routes and ports entirely.
This stipulation led to complications. The arms shipment had to take longer, more complex overland routes to bypass seaports, creating logistical challenges. The involved parties had to explore alternative pathways, including potential detours through international markets, to ensure the delivery reached Israeli recipients.
Another major obstacle was the cost of air transportation. Amid the war, air freight expenses have skyrocketed by 400%, making logistical operations even more difficult. For example, transporting arms via commercial planes used to cost $4–$5 per kilogram, but prices now range between $16 and $17 per kilogram, significantly increasing operational expenses.
UAE: Leading the Normalization Index with Israel
A recent analytical study ranked the UAE as the leading Arab nation in its normalization of ties with Israel across economic, political, cultural, and military dimensions. Conducted by the Advisory Center for Studies and Documentation, the report assessed levels of normalization among Arab countries, using detailed statistical tables to measure activities across several sectors.
Key Findings:
-
- UAE: Highest normalization activity, especially in economic (56 cases), political (24 cases), and diplomatic (18 cases) sectors.
-
- Bahrain: Second, with prominent economic (22 cases) and military (10 cases) engagements.
-
- Morocco: Third, prioritizing diplomatic ties (10 cases) followed by political (5 cases) and economic (4 cases) normalization.
-
- Egypt and Jordan: Ranked fourth and fifth, with limited but notable diplomatic and economic activities.
The study underlined that while overt activities were recorded, covert normalization efforts and unofficial interactions, such as day-to-day trade and untracked diplomatic movements, remain outside the scope of its findings.
