Worthy Christian News > Israel-Palestinian Conflict > Arab Nations Reject Israeli Invitation to Join Civil Administration of Post-War Gaza

Arab Nations Reject Israeli Invitation to Join Civil Administration of Post-War Gaza

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – Qatar, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates have announced they reject Israel’s suggestion that Arab countries control civil administration in the Gaza Strip after the current Israeli-Hamas war there has ended, the Jerusalem Post reports.

While Israel has not put forward a clear plan for the “day after” its war with Hamas ends, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in an interview last week that the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries may be able to support a civilian government in Gaza after the war.

According to a report Saturday by the Saudi-affiliated Al-Arabiya network, Egypt, Qatar, and other Arab countries reject Netanyahu’s suggestion, JPost said.

UAE’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said in a statement last week that Netanyahu has “no legal authority” to make such a suggestion. “The UAE stresses that the Israeli prime minister does not have any legal capacity to take this step, and the UAE refuses to be drawn into any plan aimed at providing cover for the Israeli presence in the Gaza Strip,” Al Nahyan said.

However, Netanyahu is not the only one to float Arab nations’ involvement in a post-war Gaza government. US President Joe Biden said in a statement recently: “We are working with Arab countries that are ready to take over the rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip the day after the war and promote the establishment of a Palestinian state according to the vision of the two countries.”