In the midst of Israel’s ongoing genocidal war on Gaza, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is playing the role of official broker in a covert Israeli project to relocate Palestinian civilians outside the besieged strip. The objective: a partial population displacement of Gaza, paving the way for Israel’s expansionist ambitions—with full U.S. backing from the Trump administration.
Recent revelations confirm that the UAE is actively working through secret channels to convince multiple countries to host displaced Palestinians as part of this Israeli plan, under the guise of “humanitarian relief.”
UAE–Indonesia Deal: Humanitarian Gesture or Political Cover?
The UAE’s role came into sharp focus after Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced, following his visit to Abu Dhabi and meeting with President Mohammed bin Zayed, that Indonesia was ready to host “thousands of Palestinians” to “facilitate the reconstruction of Gaza.”
Critics, however, have condemned this announcement as a transactional move orchestrated by Abu Dhabi, accusing the UAE of colluding with Israel’s ethnic cleansing.
Writing in Middle East Monitor, Indonesian academic Mohammed Zuhair Rahmat warned that President Prabowo’s willingness to work with the UAE raises serious ethical and strategic questions.
“Diplomacy and global partnerships are part of Indonesia’s foreign policy identity,” Rahmat stated,“but choosing the right partners is critical—especially when Palestinian lives are at stake.”
A Misleading Ally in Abu Dhabi
Rahmat criticised President Prabowo for aligning with a country openly normalised with Israel, referring to the UAE’s rapidly deepening economic, military, and technological ties with Tel Aviv over the past five years.
“Portraying the UAE as a neutral humanitarian actor is not just misleading—it borders on mockery,”Rahmat wrote, adding that Abu Dhabi’s alliance with Israel has helped shield Tel Aviv from accountability on the international stage.
Even more troubling, he noted, was the timing of Prabowo’s Gaza proposal—coinciding with multiple bilateral deals with the UAE covering security, energy, and livestock investment.
“Humanitarian concern,” he argued, “was used as a diplomatic cover for economic ambition.”
Deportation: Aiding Israel’s Agenda
Rahmat emphasised that evacuating Palestinians under current conditions is far from neutral—it serves Israel’s long-standing agenda of permanent displacement.
“Such moves risk legitimising Israel’s vision: to erase Palestinians from their land under the pretext of safety and reconstruction.”
He also voiced concern that these plans could allow Israel to reframe its war crimes as ‘humanitarian success stories,’ thanks to compliant regional allies like the UAE.
“Instead of relying on the UAE,” Rahmat urged,“Indonesia should strengthen alliances with states and movements that have consistently defended Palestinian self-determination—not those who normalized ties with Israel while Gaza burns.”
Indonesia, Rahmat argued, has a far more honourable path: to provide aid through neutral NGOs, support UN resolutions, and apply pressure on Israel via the International Court of Justice.
“Gaza is not a photo-op backdrop.It is a cemetery for children, a prison for refugees, and a symbol of resistance.”
He condemned attempts to mask complicity with slogans of solidarity:
“Pretending to help while enabling the occupier is not solidarity.It’s complicity.”
Rahmat concluded that Abu Dhabi cannot be trusted as a credible player in the Palestinian struggle for justice:
“You cannot partner with a state that normalized with Israel, continues to deepen that alliance, and still claim moral legitimacy on Palestine.”
Instead, he warned Indonesia not to legitimise the UAE’s role under the banner of “humanitarian diplomacy.”
“Indonesia’s voice matters—not because of its wealth, but because of its moral clarity.That voice must remain unwavering.”
