Why Are Saudi Arabia and the UAE Bent on Disarming Gaza’s Resistance?

The UAE and Saudi Arabia, backed by the U.S. and “Israel,” are leading calls to disarm Hamas and allied resistance factions in Gaza. These calls claim to promote “stability” and pave the way for a political resolution to end Israeli Occupation’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians.

However, such calls raise fundamental questions about the very essence of the Palestinian struggle—can an unarmed resistance stand against an occupation that enforces its rule by force, while its crimes continue unchecked by the Arab world or the international community?

Reconstruction for Disarmament

During the Arab mini-summit in Riyadh on February 21, 2025, behind-the-scenes talks reportedly centered on Saudi and Emirati conditions for Hamas’s disarmament. According to Israel Hayom, both nations have tied their financial support for Gaza’s reconstruction to Hamas laying down its arms.

The report states that Riyadh and Abu Dhabi made it clear they would neither fund nor participate in rebuilding Gaza unless Hamas was disarmed and excluded from governance—a stance opposed by Egypt and Qatar.

“Not a single rifle or bullet should remain in the hands of Hamas in Gaza, because otherwise, the Strip will be destroyed over and over again, even after it is rebuilt,” a senior official reinforced the firm Saudi-UAE position.

“Israel” is closely monitoring this Arab divide as the debate over Gaza’s future intensifies.

This version keeps the message clear, engaging, and sharp while maintaining a strong flow.

The Palestinian Network for Press and Media (PALPS) criticized the UAE’s push for resistance groups to disarm, stating that Abu Dhabi has effectively “appointed itself as Israel’s official representative in the Arab League.”

This stance, the network argued, aligns entirely with Israeli Occupation’s strategy against Gaza’s resistance.

The UAE defied the broader Arab position on Gaza’s future by making the complete disarmament of Hamas and other factions a condition for reconstruction funding, Reuters reported.

PALPS said Abu Dhabi considers Hamas as an existential threat and insists on its full disarmament before any Arab financial support for rebuilding Gaza. While some Arab nations advocate for a gradual approach, Saudi Arabia also sees an armed Hamas as a major obstacle to any resolution—largely due to strong U.S. and Israeli opposition.

The Narrative Push

The Saudi-UAE conditions didn’t just appear in Israeli and Western media—they were echoed by Arab commentators aligned with Riyadh. Among them was Egyptian journalist Emad Eldain Adeeb, known for his close ties to the Saudi regime. His younger brother, Amr Adib, a Saudi citizen, is one of the top anchors on the kingdom’s MBC network.

On February 26, during an interview on UAE-based Sky News Arabia, Emad Adeeb launched a fierce attack on Hamas.

He dismissed the February Gulf-Arab summit as merely “consultative and unofficial,” claiming, “We are not a charity. We cannot allow actors in Gaza or southern Lebanon to make unilateral military decisions that impact the region without our approval.”

“We are tasked with salvaging what can be saved, but when destruction strikes, we are expected to rebuild. This cycle has repeated itself in Gaza and four times in Lebanon. However, we will not reconstruct what we know will simply be destroyed again.”

Adeeb also linked reconstruction to political leverage, “Rebuilding without displacement depends on having a say in Gaza’s future. Hamas must recognize Palestinian national interests, as it is neither regionally nor internationally accepted while armed.”

He argued that Hamas has become a liability for the Palestinian cause and insisted, “If Hamas clings to its weapons, there will be no reconstruction in Gaza. If Hezbollah does the same, there will be no rebuilding or return of displaced people in Lebanon.”

He warned that Hamas faces a desperate population of 2 million struggling for basic survival, adding, “92% of Gaza’s housing is destroyed, and rebuilding will require $45 to $65 billion.”

Finally, Adeeb issued a challenge, his tone dripping with condescension, “If Hamas can secure that amount, then let it go ahead and govern Gaza.”

Even as Abu Dhabi pushes for the disarmament of Hamas and other factions in Gaza—labeling them an existential threat—it continues expanding its military ties with “Israel.”

On January 28, 2025, Israeli military-tech firm Thirdeye Systems announced a $10 million investment from the UAE’s defense conglomerate EDGE.

Thirdeye Systems specializes in drone detection technology and supplies the Israeli military and NATO members. Under the deal, Abu Dhabi-based EDGE acquired a 30% stake in the Israeli firm, according to a statement from Thirdeye Systems, which is listed on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange.

The Israeli company described the deal as a strategic partnership with a renowned Emirati defense and technology group.

As part of the agreement, an additional $12 million will be invested in a joint venture focused on developing and marketing advanced computer-vision analysis systems.

CEO Lior Segal, a former Israeli military officer, called the partnership with EDGE a pivotal moment for the company.

Hamas’ Defiant Response

In response to these disarmament calls, Hamas issued a firm rejection, declaring that “resistance weapons are a red line that will not be negotiated.”

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri stated on March 3, 2025, that disarmament under occupation is impossible.

The movement dismissed these demands as aligned with the Israeli agenda to eliminate resistance, arguing that they disregard Palestinians' right to self-defense against ongoing aggression.

Hamas insisted that its weapons are not bargaining chips but the only guarantee against further Israeli attacks. It vowed to lay them down only when the occupation ends and Palestinians reclaim their rights.

“We are ready today, if not yesterday, to step back from governance to hand it over to a body, a government, a committee, that is ready to run the Gaza Strip,”  Basem Naim, a senior political official for Hamas, told NBC News.

“If an independent Palestinian state is created,” Naim said, “we are ready again to become a political party and to integrate our fighters into a Palestinian national army.”

Palestinian political analyst Nasser al-Duwair argues that the UAE and Saudi Arabia's push for Hamas’ disarmament must be understood within the broader context of the region’s political dynamics.

“These regimes seek to appease the U.S. administration under Donald Trump, whose unprecedented support for Israel spanned from the ‘Deal of the Century’ to endorsing forced displacement,” al-Duwair told Al-Estiklal.

“This push aligns with the trajectory of Arab normalization with Israel, as these states view Hamas’ armed presence as a major obstacle to Israel’s full integration into the region.”

According to the analyst, it hinders their efforts to forge new alliances based on economic and political interests aimed at securing their rule.

However, he pointed out the irony of these governments advocating disarmament under the pretext of ensuring security and stability while failing to prevent a genocide, halt aggression, or even secure safe corridors for humanitarian aid—after more than 15 months of Israeli war crimes against civilians in Gaza.

“On the contrary,” al-Duwairi stressed, “their role has been limited to diplomatic statements and superficial gestures, with no real impact on the ground—making their stance appear more like pressure on the victim rather than an effort to restrain the aggressor.”