Israel's Secret Strategy for Post-War Gaza: Unraveling the Abu Dhabi Meeting

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be planning for the day after the war in Gaza ends, as evidenced by a secret meeting between Israel, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) held in Abu Dhabi. Details of the meeting remain scarce, but it suggests Israel's desire to establish a strategy for governing Gaza once the conflict subsides.

Israel's recent airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen followed a secret meeting involving the United States, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to discuss a potential strategy for governing the Gaza Strip after the ongoing conflict ends. The meeting, held in Abu Dhabi, suggests that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may be looking to establish a plan for Gaza once the war is over.

Details on the Thursday meeting, first reported by Axios, remain scarce. It is unclear if options for ending the war were also discussed. However, the meeting's timing is notable, as it occurred just one day after UAE special envoy Lana Nusseibeh laid out a "day-after" proposal in an op-ed for the Financial Times.

Israel's Secret Strategy for Post-War Gaza: Unraveling the Abu Dhabi Meeting

The meeting was reportedly hosted by UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Zayed and attended by Brett McGurk, White House coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, and Tom Sullivan, the State Department's senior policy adviser to the Secretary of State. Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and two senior Israeli defense officials also attended.

Netanyahu's interest in establishing a plan for Gaza is not surprising. In December, he suggested that Israel must take full control of Gaza to ensure the "demilitarization" of Hamas, a move that would reverse Israel's 2005 agreement to withdraw from Gaza.

Israel's Secret Strategy for Post-War Gaza: Unraveling the Abu Dhabi Meeting

The Abu Dhabi meeting suggests that Israel may be seeking international support for its plan. The UAE, a close ally of Israel, has played a key role in mediating between Israel and Hamas in the past. The presence of US officials at the meeting also indicates that Washington may be involved in shaping Israel's strategy for post-war Gaza.

Netanyahu is expected to meet with President Biden and Congress during his trip to Washington this week, where the war in Gaza is expected to be a chief topic of discussion. The Abu Dhabi meeting may provide insight into Israel's goals for the post-war period and the potential role of the US and other international actors in shaping the future of Gaza.

Israel's Secret Strategy for Post-War Gaza: Unraveling the Abu Dhabi Meeting

The meeting in Abu Dhabi is a significant development, highlighting Israel's desire to shape the post-war landscape in Gaza and the potential involvement of international actors in this process. The results of the meeting and its impact on the ongoing conflict and future peace efforts remain to be seen.