In a sign of growing regional fallout from its brutal military campaign in Gaza, Israel has hastily evacuated most of its diplomatic staff from the United Arab Emirates, citing unspecified security concerns.

The move, reported by Israeli media late Thursday, follows a warning from Israel’s National Security Council (NSC) claiming heightened risks to Israelis in the UAE, a claim that critics argue reflects Israel’s increasing isolation due to its ongoing aggression against Palestinians.

The NSC pointed to alleged threats from “terrorist organizations,” including Iran, Hamas, Hezbollah, and others, but provided no concrete evidence to substantiate the advisory. The evacuation comes amid escalating regional anger over Israel’s 21-month-long genocidal assault on Gaza, which has triggered a catastrophic famine and drawn widespread condemnation. Israel’s recent attacks on Iran have further inflamed tensions, raising fears of retaliation against Israeli interests in the Gulf.

The UAE, which normalized ties with Israel under the controversial U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords in 2020, has faced significant criticism across the Arab world for aligning with Israel while the occupation of Palestinian territories and relentless military offensives continue unabated. The growing visibility of Israeli and Jewish communities in the UAE has become a lightning rod for discontent, particularly as Gaza’s residents endure starvation and destruction caused by Israel’s blockade and bombardment.

A rare incident in November, where three individuals were sentenced to death by a UAE court for the killing of an Israeli-Moldovan rabbi, underscored the simmering tensions. However, the UAE remains one of the region’s safest countries, and analysts suggest Israel’s evacuation is less about imminent threats and more a reaction to its own diplomatic vulnerabilities and the global outcry over its policies in Gaza.

As Israel’s actions continue to destabilize the region and deepen its pariah status, the evacuation highlights the mounting consequences of its refusal to end the occupation and address the humanitarian disaster in Gaza. The UAE foreign ministry has not yet responded, leaving questions about the future of the fragile normalization agreement in the face of Israel’s escalating aggression. (ILKHA)