UAE Foreign Minister presses for Hamas exit and Israeli hostage deal as key to Gaza resolution

UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan has emphasized the need to establish calm in Gaza through the release of Israeli captives and by installing a governing authority that excludes Hamas.

In an interview with Fox News, Sheikh Abdullah stated:“First, getting the hostages out, we need calm in Gaza, and we need an authority that’s not Hamas that controls Gaza.”

His comments reflect growing Gulf concerns about the prolonged conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where Israel’s military operations have intensified since March.

Earlier this week, Sheikh Abdullah also met with Palestinian Authority Deputy President Hussein Al-Sheikh in Abu Dhabi, as part of broader diplomatic consultations across the region. The discussions reportedly focused on:

The deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza;

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Coordinating international relief efforts; Exploring political avenues to revive the peace process.

The UAE's position echoes international calls for a post-conflict governance structure in Gaza that does not include Hamas, which is designated a terrorist organization by the United States, European Union, and several other countries, though not officially listed as such by the UAE.

Meanwhile, UN agencies have warned of the collapse of Gaza’s health system, citing Israel’s blockade and its targeting of hospitals and civilian infrastructure, which has severely restricted access to food, water, fuel, and medicine since March 2.