UAE Pledges Billions to Fund Gaza's First Planned Community, with Strings Attached
The United Arab Emirates has announced plans to fund and construct "Gaza's first planned community" on the outskirts of Rafah, a move seen as part of its efforts to strengthen ties with Israel. The project, which is expected to cost millions of dollars, will provide basic services such as education, healthcare, and running water to Palestinian residents in exchange for their cooperation.
According to planning documents obtained by the Guardian, the Emirati-backed community will be built on land currently held by Israel, and its residents will be required to submit to biometric data collection and security vetting. The plans have been met with skepticism from some experts, who warn that they may perpetuate a coercive environment intended to force Palestinians out of areas of strategic interest to Israeli authorities.
The move is seen as part of a broader effort by the UAE to strengthen its ties with Israel and support its efforts to rebuild Gaza. In recent years, the Emirati government has provided over $1.8 billion in humanitarian assistance to Gaza, making it the largest donor to the territory.
Critics argue that the UAE's role in funding the project is conditional on Palestinian residents agreeing to cooperate with Israeli authorities, which could be seen as a tacit endorsement of Israel's occupation of Gaza. "Without one brick being laid, it gives a further layer of permission to Israel clearing the area, and displacing or killing Palestinians in the process," said Daniel Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator.
The plans also raise concerns about biometric surveillance in Gaza, with Matt Mahmoudi, an assistant professor at the University of Cambridge and researcher and adviser on AI and human rights at Amnesty International, warning that the project could "expand biometric surveillance in Gaza".
The US-led Board of Peace has hailed the project as a model for future reconstruction efforts, but critics argue that it may not address the underlying issues driving the conflict in Gaza. As one official noted, "the politics of the area did not interest" military planners.
The fate of Palestinians living in the "red zone" is uncertain, with plans requiring them to cross an Israeli checkpoint into the "green zone" and undergo security vetting and biometric documentation before being allowed to join the community registry. Critics argue that these measures could be used to coerce or displace Palestinians from their homes.
The project has been welcomed by some as a step towards peace and reconstruction, but its conditions have sparked concerns about the potential for coercion and control. As one expert noted, "it distracts from the fact that Israel occupies 58% of Gaza because this portion of Gaza they will attempt to label as 'happy Gaza', with schools and a judiciary and hospitals".
The United Arab Emirates has announced plans to fund and construct "Gaza's first planned community" on the outskirts of Rafah, a move seen as part of its efforts to strengthen ties with Israel. The project, which is expected to cost millions of dollars, will provide basic services such as education, healthcare, and running water to Palestinian residents in exchange for their cooperation.
According to planning documents obtained by the Guardian, the Emirati-backed community will be built on land currently held by Israel, and its residents will be required to submit to biometric data collection and security vetting. The plans have been met with skepticism from some experts, who warn that they may perpetuate a coercive environment intended to force Palestinians out of areas of strategic interest to Israeli authorities.
The move is seen as part of a broader effort by the UAE to strengthen its ties with Israel and support its efforts to rebuild Gaza. In recent years, the Emirati government has provided over $1.8 billion in humanitarian assistance to Gaza, making it the largest donor to the territory.
Critics argue that the UAE's role in funding the project is conditional on Palestinian residents agreeing to cooperate with Israeli authorities, which could be seen as a tacit endorsement of Israel's occupation of Gaza. "Without one brick being laid, it gives a further layer of permission to Israel clearing the area, and displacing or killing Palestinians in the process," said Daniel Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator.
The plans also raise concerns about biometric surveillance in Gaza, with Matt Mahmoudi, an assistant professor at the University of Cambridge and researcher and adviser on AI and human rights at Amnesty International, warning that the project could "expand biometric surveillance in Gaza".
The US-led Board of Peace has hailed the project as a model for future reconstruction efforts, but critics argue that it may not address the underlying issues driving the conflict in Gaza. As one official noted, "the politics of the area did not interest" military planners.
The fate of Palestinians living in the "red zone" is uncertain, with plans requiring them to cross an Israeli checkpoint into the "green zone" and undergo security vetting and biometric documentation before being allowed to join the community registry. Critics argue that these measures could be used to coerce or displace Palestinians from their homes.
The project has been welcomed by some as a step towards peace and reconstruction, but its conditions have sparked concerns about the potential for coercion and control. As one expert noted, "it distracts from the fact that Israel occupies 58% of Gaza because this portion of Gaza they will attempt to label as 'happy Gaza', with schools and a judiciary and hospitals".
The UAE's plan to fund Gaza's first planned community sounds like a good intention on paper, but I'm skeptical about the strings attached 
. Building a community with conditions like biometric data collection and security vetting raises serious concerns about coercion and control 
. It feels like a way for Israel to exert more control over Palestinians in Gaza, and that's not exactly a recipe for peace or stability 
. I wish there were more details about how the community would be governed and who would really benefit from this project 
. Is it really just about providing basic services or is there an ulterior motive? The lack of transparency is worrying 
. Can we trust that the funds won't come with hidden agendas or strings attached 
but is it for better or worse? 
[gif of a person looking in a mirror, unsure of their own reflection] The UAE wants control over your life, and you might get a fancy new home to boot! 
. If you think about it, Palestinians are basically being asked to give up their freedom in exchange for some basic services. It's like they're trapped in this never-ending cycle of control 
. The biometric data collection is a major red flag too - what if that info gets misused? 
We should be worried about the impact on Palestinian civilians, not just the politics. 
. its not about peace and reconstruction, its about keeping an eye on gaza and making sure ppl dont get in the way of israel's plans 
That just feels like whitewashing to me. Can't we focus on finding actual solutions to the conflict instead of slapping a pretty label on it? 
, i mean whats next? like, who gets to decide what's "happy" in gaza? it sounds like the uae is just trying to strongarm palestinians into cooperating with israel without even addressing the root issues of their occupation 
? It doesn't seem right to me. I remember when the US was involved in the Middle East, they were always like "democracy" and "freedom" 
. Can we just talk about something else for once