The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar has revealed that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is actively working to shape a political agreement aimed at persuading Egypt to accept the forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza—a plan originally proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, and widely rejected by Arab states, especially Egypt and Jordan.
According to the report, Abu Dhabi is mediating between Washington and Cairo, attempting to craft a political package that would satisfy Egypt’s minimum demands in return for agreeing to the controversial displacement plan. The UAE is reportedly offering financial incentives as part of this negotiation.
The paper explained that the Emirati proposal includes allowing Palestinian civilians to remain in Gaza, while removing the armed resistance, thereby avoiding a total evacuation of the Strip.
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Though the Emirati proposal appears to align with the broader Arab plan for Gaza reconstruction, its actual objective, Al-Akhbar claims, is to empty Gaza of resistance fighters, and support Israeli efforts to neutralise Gaza as a future threat to its occupation.
The UAE’s plan also includes a framework that would facilitate Palestinian displacement, with exceptional financial compensation to Egypt in exchange for helping Palestinians exit Gaza.
The report notes that these discussions were part of President Mohamed bin Zayed’s recent visit to Cairo, during which talks intensified to repackage the plan in a form more palatable to Egyptian officials.
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This plan, Al-Akhbar reports, has received support from Israel, and its key components were discussed during UAE National Security Adviser Tahnoun bin Zayed’s recent visit to Washington.
UAE Undermining Arab League’s Gaza Plan
Earlier, U.S. and Egyptian officials told Middle East Eye that the UAE has been lobbying the Trump administration to sabotage the post-war reconstruction plan for Gaza that was drafted by Egypt and endorsed by the Arab League.
This reflects an ongoing regional power struggle over who will shape the future of Gaza—including who governs it, how it is rebuilt, and whether Hamas retains influence.
The Middle East Eye report notes that the UAE’s pressure campaign presents a diplomatic challenge for Egypt, especially since both countries support Mohammed Dahlan, a former Fatah official and rival of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
Though Egypt and the UAE share an interest in elevating Dahlan as a political actor in post-war Gaza, Abu Dhabi has gone further—aggressively opposing the Arab League’s reconstruction blueprint and seeking to replace it with one more aligned with Trump and Israel’s goals.
A U.S. official was quoted saying:
“The UAE wasn’t the only country that objected to the Arab League plan when it was drafted, but they have been the most vocal in rejecting it—particularly alongside the Trump team.”
Al-Otaiba Pressuring the White House to Force Egypt’s Hand
According to Middle East Eye, UAE Ambassador to the U.S., Yousef Al-Otaiba, is actively lobbying Trump’s inner circle and American lawmakers to pressure Egypt into accepting forcibly displaced Palestinians from Gaza.
“The UAE is using its unprecedented access to the White House to undermine Egypt’s plan,” said a source familiar with the matter.“They’re accusing Cairo of giving Hamas too much influence, and insisting that the Arab League’s plan is unworkable.”
This campaign, sources argue, places the UAE squarely in alignment with the far-right elements of both the Israeli and American administrations, further deepening its estrangement from Arab public opinion and solidifying its role in promoting displacement and undermining Palestinian sovereignty.
