UAE president rejects Palestinian displacement as he meets US secretary of state

Palestinians living in the rubble of destroyed houses or in makeshift tents in the city of Khan Yunis, which suffered great destruction during the 15-month-long attacks of the Israeli army, continue their daily life despite all the negativities on February 16, 2025 in Khan Yunis, Gaz [Abed Rahim Khatib/Anadolu Agency]

President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan reaffirmed on Wednesday his country’s opposition to any attempts to relocate Palestinians from their land, Anadolu news agency reported.

This came during a meeting between the Emirati leader and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Abu Dhabi where they reviewed bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries, the state news agency WAM reported.

Sheikh Mohamed and Rubio also discussed a host of regional and international issues, including developments in the Palestinian territories and the Middle East region, WAM said.

The discussions also dwelt on ongoing efforts “to address the crisis in Gaza and its implications for regional peace, stability, and security,” the broadcaster said.

Sheikh Mohamed reaffirmed “the UAE’s firm stance rejecting any attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land” and underscored the importance of linking Gaza’s reconstruction “to a path that leads to a comprehensive and lasting peace based on the two-state solution.”

US President Donald Trump has announced a proposal to take over Gaza and resettle its Palestinian inhabitants to develop it into what he called “the Riviera of the Middle East,” an idea vehemently rejected by the Palestinians, Arab countries, and many Western nations, who say it amounts to ethnic cleansing.

The controversial idea came amid the ceasefire agreement that took effect in Gaza on 19 January, halting Israel’s genocidal war, which has killed nearly 48,300 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.

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