US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has disclosed that Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are prepared to participate in a security force to stabilize Gaza post-conflict, according to a Thursday report by The Times of Israel citing three officials familiar with the matter. During his recent Middle Eastern tour, which included stops in Qatar, Egypt, Israel, and Jordan, Blinken revealed significant progress in rallying Arab allies for the initiative despite the absence of a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas.
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The proposed security force, intended to collaborate with local Palestinian officers, hinges on critical conditions set by Egypt and the UAE. These conditions include the creation of a pathway toward a future Palestinian state, a demand starkly at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stance. Moreover, Egypt has called for a complete Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, a demand likely to clash with Netanyahu’s security policies, which include maintaining the ability to re-enter Gaza to prevent a resurgence of Hamas.
In parallel, the UAE has insisted on significant US involvement in the security effort, emphasizing the importance of a robust international presence in the region’s stabilization. Blinken confirmed that the US would support establishing and training this force, ensuring it operates under a temporary mandate to pave the way for a fully autonomous Palestinian authority in the future.