UAE Condemns Netanyahu Proposing Israel To Be The Government Of Gaza

JAKARTA - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for naming the Gulf state in a proposed civilian government that would rule the Gaza Strip under Israeli occupation.

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed confirmed that Netanyahu did not have the legitimacy to take such action.

"The UAE refuses to be involved in any plans aimed at protecting Israel's presence in Gaza," he quoted Antara as saying.

Sheikh Abdullah confirmed the UAE's commitment to support the Palestinian government which is in line with the aspirations of the Palestinian people.

Earlier on Thursday, Netanyahu said in an interview that a civilian government in Gaza needed, possibly with the support of the UAE and others.

Last Tuesday, Israeli soldiers began an invasion of the northern region of Rafah by storming and occupying the Palestinian side on the Rafah border with Egypt, closing the only Palestinian gateway with the world.

Israel is attacking the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the Hamas attack on October 7 which killed about 1,200 people.

Meanwhile nearly 34,950 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, most of whom are women and children, and more than 78,500 people have been injured, as a result of Israeli onslaught, according to Palestinian health authorities.

Seven months after Israel's war, much of Gaza's territory was destroyed, forcing 85 percent of the population in the enclave to flee amid food blockades, clean water and crippling medicines, according to the United Nations.

Israel is accused of committing genocide in the International Court. A provisional decision in January said it "reasonable" that Israel committed genocide in Gaza and ordered Tel Aviv to stop the action and ensure that humanitarian aid was provided to civilians in Gaza.