Gulf diplomacy and wartime calculus

The United Arab Emirates’ foreign minister met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and pressed for an end to the war in Gaza, the release of hostages and detainees, and a concrete political horizon for Palestinians. The rare high-level encounter underscored mounting regional pressure to halt the fighting and avert wider escalation, as front lines in Gaza remain volatile and communities in southern Israel and northern Gaza brace for intermittent fire. The UAE, which recognized Israel under the 2020 Abraham Accords, has kept diplomatic channels open while publicly calling for sustained humanitarian access and a cease-fire framework that is tied to a postwar governance plan. Officials familiar with the talks said the Emirati message linked any future normalization dividends to measurable steps on Palestinian statehood, security sector reform, and reconstruction oversight.

Regional risks, aid access and next steps

The meeting also touched on cross-border spillovers, energy and shipping risks in the Red Sea, and the need to stabilize the West Bank as donor fatigue bites. Diplomats described a narrow window for bridging gaps between cease-fire terms, with mediators eyeing phased exchanges, security guarantees for Rafah and Khan Younis, and a monitored corridor for aid convoys. For the UAE, the calculus includes protecting trade routes, deconflicting with key partners, and limiting radicalization across the region. For Israel, coalition dynamics and hostage families’ pressure continue to shape decision-making. Any pathway that couples a truce with governance milestones in Gaza—and credible steps toward a two-state outcome—will determine whether this diplomatic push becomes a turning point or another stalled track.