Arrests and Deportations: How UAE Treats Residents Supporting Gaza

In line with its normalization policy with “Israel” and opposition to the Palestinian resistance movement (Hamas), the UAE has turned its attention to harassing residents on its territory who sympathize with Gaza's inhabitants and oppose the brutal aggression carried out by the Israeli Occupation since October 7, 2023.

The ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza for nearly nine months has resulted in over 38,000 martyrs and around 90,000 wounded, while “Israel” refuses to agree to a ceasefire to stop the aggression, despite the UN Security Council adopting a resolution on March 25, 2024, calling for a ceasefire and the delivery of aid to the Strip.

Arrests and Deportations

In a new move highlighting Abu Dhabi's support for “Israel” in its aggression on Gaza, human rights centers revealed that UAE authorities have arrested and summoned dozens of citizens and residents for expressing their opposition to Israeli crimes on social media.

According to the Emirates Detainees Advocacy Center (EDAC), UAE authorities contacted a Jordanian citizen of Palestinian origin working in the UAE and asked him to report to a security center because of a social media post praising the Palestinian resistance.

EDAC's report, published on June 28, detailed how "an Emirati state security officer interrogated the Jordanian youth for several hours, asking if he admired Abu Obaida, the spokesperson for the al-Qassam Brigades, and about his political views, then released him, warning that praising the Palestinian resistance was prohibited."

In another case documented by the center, a Palestinian resident in the UAE, who managed a WhatsApp group, received a call from a state security officer instructing her to prevent posts related to the Palestinian cause or delete the group entirely.

The center also documented a third case involving a Jordanian resident working in the UAE who was detained for seven days in December 2023 and interrogated over a post on X about Palestine, before being deported to Jordan.

Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor documented other instances in March and April 2024, confirming that the UAE deported two individuals due to posts related to the Palestinian issue.

A report published by the monitor on May 2, 2024, indicated that the first case involved a Jordanian citizen of Palestinian origin working in a construction company in Dubai for five years. He was summoned by UAE authorities for interrogation on April 10 at a state security center.

The monitor explained that the interrogation was about Facebook posts condemning the Israeli military assault and genocide in Gaza. He was detained for three days and then handed a deportation order, forcing him to leave the UAE immediately.

The second case involved an Egyptian citizen who was interrogated on March 25, 2024, over social media posts criticizing Arab and Islamic stance on the famine in Gaza during Ramadan and calling for an end to all forms of normalization with “Israel.”

The report stated that his interrogation ended with him being informed of his dismissal from his job at a local company and given 48 hours to leave the country without the possibility of appealing the decision or taking any legal action against it.

The human rights monitor also revealed receiving reports of security agencies launching an intimidation campaign within UAE universities, issuing instructions to ban any protests against “Israel” and threatening dismissal for academics and student activists who defied this.

According to the report, authorities summoned several university academics, representatives of Arab and Islamic communities, and social media activists to state security headquarters to warn them against organizing any activities related to solidarity with Gaza or publicly expressing their opinions against “Israel.”

Arms Support

In tandem with supporting “Israel” indirectly, a company linked to the UAE in Serbia has been supplying “Israel” with weapons amid the aggression on Gaza, according to a report published by Middle East Eye in early July 2024.

The London-based site reported that Serbia's state-owned arms manufacturing company, which sells millions of dollars' worth of weapons to “Israel,” has struck lucrative arms deals with the UAE, which also has long-standing relations with this company.

Middle East Eye cited a report from Balkan Insight, confirming that the main state-owned arms trading company in Serbia exported at least $17.1 million worth of weapons to “Israel” via Israeli military aircraft and civilian planes.

Following the global financial crisis, financially-strapped Serbia sought multi-billion-dollar loans from the UAE in 2013. While courting Emirati investment, Serbia also pursued arms deals.

In 2013, the two countries announced their first arms deal, which included Serbia's agreement to export armored personnel carriers to the UAE and the bilateral development of a guided surface-to-surface missile. At that time, the deal was valued at approximately $214 million.

The report also noted that the UAE made a significant investment in Serbia's national airline, although Serbia is now preparing to take over the UAE's stake in the state carrier.

Supporting the Enemy

Since the onset of the Israeli aggression on Gaza on October 7, 2023, the reactions from Arab regimes ranged from condemnation to denunciation. However, one country stood out in solidarity with the Israeli Occupation — the UAE.

On October 9, while Israeli airstrikes were pounding civilian neighborhoods in Gaza, the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that “the attacks by Hamas on Israeli towns and villages near Gaza represent a serious and grave escalation.”

The ministry expressed condolences to the families of the victims and emphasized the necessity of full civilian protection under international humanitarian law, stressing that civilians should not be targets of the “conflict.”

Former Israeli Prime Minister and current opposition leader Yair Lapid announced a phone call with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed, during which the latter expressed full solidarity with “Israel” against the attacks.

On October 10, 2023, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi dismissed the notion that the Israeli attacks on Gaza would affect trade relations between Abu Dhabi and “Israel,” telling reporters at a conference in Dubai, "We do not mix trade with politics."

The UAE signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with “Israel,” which came into effect in March 2023, marking the first free trade agreement between the Israeli Occupation and an Arab state.

The UAE's controversial stances during the Israeli aggression extended beyond diplomatic and political intersections to the realm of sports. On October 11, 2023, the Egyptian national football team played a friendly match against Zambia at the Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium in Al Ain.

While everyone expected the players and fans to raise the Palestinian flag in solidarity with Gaza, which was enduring intense Israeli bombardment, they were shocked by the complete absence of the flag. No player was able to raise it, and it was not seen among the spectators in the stands.

Hoda Bahaa, the wife of Egyptian national team player Ahmed Sayed, revealed that the security at Hazza Bin Zayed Stadium prevented Egyptian players and fans from raising the Palestinian flag. The players had intended to enter the friendly match against Zambia with Palestinian flags.

Commenting on the situation, Hoda posted on Instagram, "This is the stance of the Muslim UAE!" following the match, which ended with Egypt winning 1-0.