An Israeli news outlet has stirred wide controversy after revealing details of a secret weapons transfer between the United Arab Emirates and Israel, at a time when the devastating war on Gaza continues and regional tensions are at a peak.
According to the report published by the Israeli site Suragim, an Ilyushin-76 cargo plane took off from Al-Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi and landed in southern Israel, near the Nevatim Air Base in the Negev desert. Nevatim is believed to be one of the main hubs for delivering military shipments directly to the Israeli army.
The site confirmed that the plane returned immediately to the UAE after unloading its cargo, suggesting that the operation was executed swiftly and discreetly—away from public scrutiny—in order to avoid exposing the extent of military cooperation between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.
Flight Details and Military Implications
Citing air-tracking data, the report noted that the Emirati cargo jet departed Abu Dhabi on Tuesday evening, flew through Saudi and Jordanian airspace, and then crossed into the Negev.
The aircraft landed at a military airstrip adjacent to Nevatim Air Base, a facility widely known for storing and redistributing weapons and military equipment.
Sources indicated that the shipment included ammunition and advanced military communication systems, further reinforcing assessments that the UAE is not only engaged in diplomatic and economic normalisation with Israel but is now an active partner in strengthening its war arsenal.
Dangerous Political Implications
The revelations reignite serious questions about the UAE’s true role in the region. While Abu Dhabi frequently presents itself as a “peace mediator” in international crises, the reality of secret arms transfers exposes a starkly different face—one of financing and arming Israel in the midst of its assault on Palestinians.
An Israeli political analyst told Suragim: “These flights are no longer exceptional—they are becoming part of a growing security partnership between the UAE and Israel, moving beyond intelligence sharing to direct military support.” The analyst added that Abu Dhabi is working to entrench itself as a reliable strategic ally to both Tel Aviv and Washington.
Nevatim Air Base, located in the Negev, is considered one of Israel’s most strategic air force facilities. It reportedly houses advanced F-35 fighter jets and serves as a primary gateway for receiving weapons shipments from abroad. Military experts argue that the decision to land the Emirati cargo plane there was no coincidence. It was a clear signal that the shipment was destined directly for Israel’s military establishment, outside any civilian or commercial cover.
Angry Reactions in the Arab and Palestinian Arenas
The revelations have sparked outrage across Arab and Palestinian circles. Activists denounced the UAE’s role as “blatant complicity in the killing of Palestinians by financing and arming the Israeli war machine,” and demanded an international investigation into such operations.
A spokesperson for a human rights organisation in Gaza declared: “While children are dying daily under bombardment and siege, planes from Abu Dhabi arrive loaded with weapons to intensify our suffering. This is not mere normalisation—it is direct participation in the war on the Palestinian people.”
UAE’s Double Standards
The report underscores the sharp contradiction between Emirati officials’ rhetoric and their actual policies. While Abu Dhabi markets itself as a promoter of regional stability and humanitarian initiatives for Gaza, in practice it is reinforcing Israel’s arsenal with weapons—steps observers say aim to cement a strategic alliance with Israel at the expense of the Palestinian cause and the blood of civilians.
Military analysts also stress that this UAE-Israel cooperation is not just bilateral. It carries broader consequences for the balance of power in the Middle East. On one hand, it further entrenches Israel as a military power with unconditional external support. On the other, it fuels the potential for a regional arms race, intensifying suspicions among other Arab states about Abu Dhabi’s direction.
These developments could also place the European Union and the United Nations in a new dilemma—particularly if it is proven that Emirati weapons have contributed to documented war crimes against civilians in Gaza.
