President Sheikh Mohamed has reiterated the UAE’s firm opposition to any efforts aimed at displacing Palestinians from their land. He emphasized the UAE’s position during a meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
During the discussion, Sheikh Mohamed highlighted the necessity of linking Gaza’s reconstruction to a broader path toward "a comprehensive and lasting peace based on the two-state solution" to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. He stressed that the two-state solution is the "only manner of ensuring stability in the region" while warning against further escalation, which could threaten regional peace.
Rubio’s visit to the UAE marked the final stop of his Middle East tour ahead of a crucial summit in Saudi Arabia on Friday. The summit, which includes the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states Egypt and Jordan, aims to develop an alternative to Trump's controversial Gaza plan.
On February 4 US President Donald Trump proposed relocating Gaza’s Palestinian inhabitants to Egypt and Jordan while asserting "The US will take over the Gaza Strip and we will do a job with it too. We'll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site."
His remarks triggered widespread backlash from Palestinian Arab leaders and global officials. Palestinian expats in the UAE strongly criticized the proposal, insisting that Trump should not treat their land as a "real estate project."
Arab states have united to oppose the US plan, reinforcing their commitment to protecting Palestinian rights. During his Monday meeting in Saudi Arabia, Rubio and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed "the importance of an arrangement for Gaza that contributes to regional security."
On Sunday, Rubio met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, where he reaffirmed unwavering US support for Israel. The meeting effectively signalled US approval for Israel to act at its discretion in Gaza, where a fragile ceasefire has been in effect since January 19.
The upcoming Arab summit in Saudi Arabia is expected to present a collective response countering the Gaza displacement plan and reinforcing a long-term strategy for regional stability.