As international pressure mounts to halt one of the bloodiest wars in modern Palestinian history, there is a growing consensus among world leaders and humanitarian voices calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Yet in the shadows of these diplomatic efforts, some regional powers are actively working to sabotage peace, not support it.
At the forefront of these actors stands the United Arab Emirates, playing a disruptive and obstructionist role in ongoing ceasefire negotiations through secret diplomatic manoeuvres and coordinated pressure campaigns targeting decision-makers in Washington.
Emirati Pressure on Washington to Derail Peace
According to high-level U.S. diplomatic sources, UAE National Security Advisor Tahnoun bin Zayed and Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba have lobbied the White House to shift its support away from mediation efforts led by Qatar and Turkey. Instead, they’ve urged the Biden administration to back Israel’s maximalist conditions, including the dismantling of Hamas and the restructuring of Gaza’s political landscape before any ceasefire.
As reported by U.S. officials to Semafor, the Emirati message was blunt:
“A ceasefire now would reward Hamas and destabilise the region.”
This message was communicated in closed-door briefings to U.S. lawmakers and in private meetings with officials from the Pentagon and the State Department.
The Emirati Vision for ‘Post-Hamas Gaza’
In early July 2025, a confidential memo circulated within the U.S. Congress, reportedly drafted by lobby groups with close ties to Abu Dhabi. The document outlined a “Post-Hamas Plan” for Gaza that calls for:
- The formation of an internationally backed administration in Gaza
- Led by Palestinian figures loyal to the UAE and aligned with normalisation agendas
- The exclusion of all resistance factions, especially Hamas and Islamic Jihad
The memo advocates for continued Israeli military pressure to ensure the complete dismantling of Palestinian resistance, both politically and militarily.
Influencing U.S. Opinion Through Lobbying and Propaganda
Congressional aides revealed that the UAE’s pressure campaign included:
- Private dinners with U.S. lawmakers
- Coordinated op-eds in American newspapers
- Confidential briefings promoting continued Israeli operations “until total victory”
In late June, Ambassador Al Otaiba held closed meetings with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, warning that any ceasefire would be “premature” and could “destabilise regional balances.”
In a controversial twist, Western diplomats disclosed that Emirati intelligence shared classified files with the U.S., attempting to link Gaza’s resistance factions to Iran—a move designed to portray the war as part of a wider “regional anti-terror campaign” and undercut momentum for de-escalation.
Direct Coordination with Israel Behind the Scenes
Israeli media leaks have confirmed that Tahnoun bin Zayed has been in constant contact with Israeli security officials throughout recent weeks. Discussions reportedly included:
- The “day after” scenarios for Gaza
- Offering UAE economic and security roles in reconstruction efforts
- Excluding any authentic Palestinian actors from the process
Observers view this alignment as evidence of the deepening strategic alliance between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv, one aimed at redrawing Gaza’s future in a way that reflects shared interests—even if it comes at the cost of tens of thousands of Palestinian lives.
Hidden Agendas: Marginalising Qatar and Silencing Palestinians
Analysts suggest that the UAE’s motives go beyond merely obstructing a ceasefire. They include:
- Diminishing Qatar’s influence in the Gaza file
- Undermining the Palestinian leadership, especially any who resists normalisation
As one insider put it:
“The UAE doesn’t want peace—it wants a manufactured, obedient Palestinian leadership that will serve its regional agenda.”
This isn’t the first time Abu Dhabi has played such a role. The UAE was involved in similar efforts to derail Gaza ceasefire attempts in 2014 and 2021, often working through unofficial intermediaries to convince Western powers not to pressure Israel to stop its offensives.
Mass Deaths, No Accountability
Since October 2023, over 58,000 Palestinians have been killed, the vast majority women and children. Despite this horrific toll, the UAE continues to push for “security solutions” instead of genuine political pathways to peace.
These interventions raise pressing ethical and legal questions:
- Is Abu Dhabi intentionally obstructing peace efforts in Gaza?
- Does it bear legal responsibility for prolonging the war?
- Can it be held accountable by international institutions for its covert role in fuelling conflict?
What is increasingly clear is that for the UAE, Gaza is not a humanitarian crisis—it is a geopolitical chessboard for securing ports, oil routes, and regional dominance.
The Myth of ‘Humanitarian Concern’
While Emirati officials continue to make public declarations of concern for civilian suffering, their actual conduct paints a very different picture:
Prolonging war serves their interests. Peace, by contrast, threatens their plans.
The UAE’s involvement in Gaza is no longer hidden. It is now one of the most prominent reasons ceasefire efforts have failed. While some capitals talk about peace, Abu Dhabi works quietly—but decisively—to sabotage it, in pursuit of power, influence, and strategic deals—even if they are written in Palestinian blood.
