UAE envoy says no alternative to Trump’s Gaza plan for now

The United Arab Emirates considers U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan for the Gaza Strip “difficult,” but currently sees no alternative, according to UAE Ambassador to the United States Yousef al-Otaiba. Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, al-Otaiba emphasized that Abu Dhabi is open to discussions but has yet to see a viable replacement for Trump’s proposal.

“We are agile, we make our voices heard and we are very outspoken and unapologetic about this,” al-Otaiba said in an interview with Al Arabiya. “Just like any relationship, sometimes our friends listen to us, sometimes they don’t, sometimes we agree on certain positions, sometimes we disagree. We’ve always strived to find common ground.”

Trump has suggested that the United States could “take over” the war-torn Gaza Strip, with an eventual resettlement plan for its population. Initially, he mentioned that Palestinians might return to Gaza later, but later reversed his stance, telling Fox News that those who leave would not return because they would have “much better housing” elsewhere.

Reports have speculated that possible relocation sites include Morocco, Somaliland, and Puntland, though these claims remain unverified. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed support for Trump’s approach, and polls indicate that a majority of Israeli Jews favor the proposal.

Previously, Netanyahu had said he was working to establish a new administration in Gaza led by Palestinians “who are not committed to our destruction,” possibly with the aid of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and other regional partners interested in long-term stability.

As discussions continue, the UAE remains open to alternative solutions but acknowledges that no other concrete proposals have surfaced. The future of Gaza remains uncertain, with international and regional actors closely watching the next steps.

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