The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has an ambitious plan to build a new community in the war-torn region of Gaza, an initiative that could spark controversy and raise important questions. This planned community, envisioned as a beacon of hope and progress, aims to provide essential services to Palestinian residents, but it comes with a catch.
Located on the outskirts of Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza, this project promises access to education, healthcare, and running water. However, there's a condition: residents must agree to biometric data collection and security vetting. This requirement, outlined in planning documents, has sparked concerns and debates among those familiar with the talks at the US-led Civil Military Coordination Center in Israel.
The UAE's investment in this post-war reconstruction project is significant, marking its first such endeavor in the Israeli-held part of Gaza. Since October 2023, the wealthy Gulf state has contributed over $1.8 billion in humanitarian aid to Gaza, making it the territory's largest donor.
But here's where it gets controversial: the UAE's role as the financier of this project has not been publicly acknowledged until now. Leaked documents obtained by The Guardian reveal the Emirati backing, with Israeli military planners giving their approval to the plans.
Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, and Josh Gruenbaum, key figures in the US-led Board of Peace, arrived in Abu Dhabi to broker peace talks between Russia and Ukraine. The Gulf nation's support for US-led initiatives, including the Board of Peace, led to it hosting this landmark meeting.
The Board of Peace has been mandated to oversee reconstruction efforts in Gaza, with Donald Trump's endorsement at the World Economic Forum in Davos. However, the UAE has remained silent on its decision to endorse the Board and its funding plans for this project.
One US official suggested that this Emirati-backed compound could serve as a model for a series of residential camps, described as "alternative safe communities" by US and Israeli officials. Within this first community, planners envision measures to counter Hamas influence, such as electronic shekel wallets to prevent funds from reaching Hamas channels and a school curriculum supplied by the UAE, ensuring it's not Hamas-based.
The plans leave some crucial questions unanswered, such as who will conduct security checks at the community's entry and exit points. These new compounds will be built on the rubble left by Israel's two-year war on Gaza, an assault that has resulted in over 70,000 Palestinian deaths and the destruction of three-quarters of Gaza's structures.
The United Nations estimates that rebuilding Gaza will cost at least $70 billion, with experts predicting that the reconstruction efforts could take up to 80 years due to the scale of destruction. Clearing debris, disarming unexploded ordnance, and retrieving bodies are all challenges that could complicate the process.
Under Trump's peace agreement, Gaza is divided into a "green zone" controlled by Israel and a "red zone" governed by Hamas. Initial reconstruction efforts are focused on the Israeli-held half. Kushner's presentation at Davos showcased the Board of Peace's ambitions to redevelop Gaza's entire Mediterranean coast, with plans for eight residential areas, including "New Rafah" and "Rafah 1" and "Rafah 2".
The "New Rafah" project is part of Trump's 20-point peace plan, promising 100,000 housing units, 200 education centers, and 75 medical facilities. A White House spokesperson confirmed that the Emirati-backed compound will be built during the initial reconstruction phase.
Land-clearing efforts for the Rafah site are already underway, according to an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson. Israel's mission is to clear the infrastructure on its side, including tunnels and booby-trapped houses. However, Israel has stated it will not participate in building or managing the Emirati compound, with the International Stabilization Force (ISF) envisioned to oversee security in Gaza.
The timeline for the project indicates that site planning began in October with a land deed review, and construction is expected to start within four to six months. A deed review is crucial to avoid accusations of forcible displacement, which is a war crime.
Daniel Levy, a former Israeli peace negotiator, expressed skepticism about the project's feasibility but acknowledged that it serves Israel's political goals. He believes it provides Israel with permission to clear the area and displace or kill Palestinians. The Emirati participation, according to Levy, allows Israel to claim that construction has Arab state support.
The reconstruction efforts face challenges, with UN programs that once serviced Gaza's schools largely dismantled due to Israel's allegations against UN staff. Israel has also barred several aid groups from Gaza, including those involved in hospital staffing and community water projects.
Private contractors have been vying for reconstruction bids since Trump brokered the peace agreement. Muhammad Shehada, a visiting fellow, suggests that planners at the CMCC seem to believe Palestinians will move to the new communities if enough food is provided, overlooking the political dynamics of the region.
To enter the Emirati compound, Palestinians from the "red zone" must cross an Israeli checkpoint into the "green zone" and undergo security vetting and biometric documentation. The plans are unclear about who will manage these processes and the criteria for entry. Palestinians approved for entry will use their Palestinian ID numbers, issued by the Palestinian Authority in coordination with Israel's COGAT, to join the community registry.
Matt Mahmoudi, an assistant professor and researcher, has reviewed the planning documents and raised concerns about the expansion of biometric surveillance in Gaza. He argues that Israel's use of biometric surveillance perpetuates apartheid and oppresses Palestinians by creating a coercive environment.
If Palestinians voluntarily submit to the surveillance and biometric measures, some suggest that Israel would welcome the success of this "case study." Levy believes that Israel sees the creation of model Palestinian communities as a desirable outcome, further encouraging the ethnic cleansing or physical removal of Palestinians from the area.
This ambitious project raises important questions about the role of international actors in post-conflict reconstruction, the impact on local communities, and the potential for further division and displacement. What are your thoughts on this planned community and its potential implications? Feel free to share your opinions and engage in the discussion!
