The Israeli newspaper “Israel Hayom” has revealed that Saudi Arabia and the UAE are conditioning their financial support for Gaza’s reconstruction on the complete disarmament of Hamas.
According to the report, Egypt proposed the formation of a governmental body to oversee reconstruction, excluding both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. However, Qatar strongly opposes this, asserting that Hamas has the right to participate in governance. This reflects deep diplomatic rifts among Arab nations regarding the future of Gaza.
The newspaper stated that during a recent Arab leaders’ meeting in Riyadh, both Saudi Arabia and the UAE emphasized that they would not contribute financially or operationally to Gaza’s reconstruction unless Hamas is completely disarmed and excluded from governance.
Israel Exploiting Arab Divisions
According to the Israeli newspaper, the occupation closely monitors these divisions among Arab states, which have contributed to delaying a prisoner exchange deal for Palestinian detainees.
The report also highlighted Egypt’s efforts to mediate a compromise by proposing a governmental committee composed of Palestinian technocrats under the supervision of the Arab League, with Gulf nations providing financial backing for reconstruction.
To appease Saudi Arabia and the UAE, Egypt agreed to exclude Hamas from this proposed committee while maintaining control over the selection of companies participating in reconstruction projects. However, Gulf nations have raised concerns about corruption and lack of oversight.
An unnamed senior Israeli official mocked the situation, saying, “Sisi’s partners will continue to profit from the Gaza conflict, but instead of smuggling fees, it will be through bribes from contractors.”
Qatar’s Opposition and the Demand to Disarm Hamas
The report further noted that Qatar opposes the Saudi-Emirati stance, arguing that Hamas has the right to participate in governance—not just in Gaza’s security forces, but also in the broader Palestinian political system.
The newspaper stressed that Saudi Arabia and the UAE remain firm on their demand for Hamas’ complete disarmament. It cited an unnamed official as saying, “Not a single gun or bullet should remain in Hamas’ hands in Gaza, or else the territory will be destroyed again and again, even after reconstruction.”
A Stalemate in Arab Negotiations
The expanded meeting in Riyadh last week failed to produce an agreement, leaving Egypt facing a major challenge ahead of the upcoming Arab League summit in Cairo, where its proposal will be reviewed.
Israeli and U.S. Calculations
From the Israeli perspective, Tel Aviv is closely monitoring these developments, with the newspaper noting that Israel’s recent decision to halt the release of Palestinian prisoners is directly linked to these ongoing negotiations.
The report emphasized that Israel has hardened its stance toward Hamas, particularly after what it described as the group “exploiting” a temporary ceasefire to restore its military and administrative capabilities.
The article concluded by highlighting U.S. support for dismantling Hamas, referencing a previous statement by U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who remarked:
“If you (Arab nations) don’t like Trump’s logical solutions to these problems, then come up with your own ideas.”
