Israeli Minister Visits Gulf Region for First Time after Gaza Conflict

gaza, united arab emirates, abu dhabi, israel, new york - In the midst of discussions for a possible ceasefire in Gaza, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar paid a historic visit to the United Arab Emirates to meet with his counterpart. The meeting focused on regional developments and bilateral relations.

After over two years of ongoing attacks on the Gaza Strip, Israel made its first diplomatic contact with the Arab world since the beginning of the conflict. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar met with UAE Foreign Minister Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi amid negotiations for a ceasefire and a hostage swap agreement.

The visit, confirmed by Saar's office to be at the invitation of the Abu Dhabi government, focused on regional developments and bilateral relations between the two countries. The UAE side stated that the meeting addressed the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and ways to achieve a sustainable ceasefire.

According to Israeli media reports, sources close to the meeting revealed that the UAE has been discussing the possibility of participating in a temporary governance in Gaza until a restructured Palestinian Authority can take over in the region. Foreign diplomats and Western officials have also stated that discussions have included the temporary control of Gazan governance, security, and reconstruction by the UAE and the US, supported by other countries, following Israel's withdrawal from the area.

The US State Department confirmed discussions with various partners, including the UAE, on governance, security, and reconstruction options after the conflict, with various drafts, plans, and ideas being proposed. Additionally, there were claims that the UAE suggested the formation of a security force in Gaza using private military companies.

In a significant post-war development, this visit marks the first direct contact between Israel and the UAE since the signing of the Abraham Accords in 2020, which established formal relations between Israel and Arab states. The previous encounter between the two nations took place in September 2023 when then-Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen met with bin Zayed on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly summit in New York.