Abu Dhabi – The United Arab Emirates has sharply criticized Israel’s decision to advance a new settlement plan in the occupied West Bank, as well as its ongoing military operations in the Gaza Strip.
In a statement released Sunday, the Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the measures as “grave violations” of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. The ministry said the actions undermine international efforts to achieve peace and threaten the possibility of creating an independent Palestinian state.
“The continuation of these practices will only deepen humanitarian suffering and further destabilize the region,” the ministry said, warning of “catastrophic consequences” if the violence continues.
The UAE urged Israel to immediately halt settlement expansion and military escalation, and called on the international community to step in. It pressed governments and international organizations to “uphold their responsibilities” by demanding compliance with international law and working toward a political process that could lead to lasting peace.
Israel has long faced international criticism over settlement construction in the West Bank, territory it captured in the 1967 war and that Palestinians claim as part of a future state. More than 450,000 Israeli settlers now live among about 3 million Palestinians in the West Bank, creating friction that has fueled decades of conflict.
The latest settlement plans come as violence continues in Gaza, where Israel has carried out large-scale military operations following repeated clashes with Palestinian groups. The fighting has worsened living conditions in the blockaded enclave, which international aid agencies say is already facing a severe humanitarian crisis.
The UAE, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, has increasingly voiced concern over developments in Gaza and the West Bank in recent months. Emirati officials have stressed that continued settlement activity and military escalation jeopardize not only the two-state solution but also broader regional security.
While the UAE maintains diplomatic and economic ties with Israel, Sunday’s statement highlights the strain that ongoing conflict is placing on regional partners. The ministry reiterated that peace can only be achieved through a negotiated political process rooted in international legitimacy and the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
