As the bombs rain down on Gaza and Palestinian lives are reduced to numbers in casualty reports, an unsettling silence — and in many cases, active complicity — emanates from the Persian Gulf.

While the streets of the Arab world erupt in fury over Israel’s relentless bombardment, the ruling elites of Gulf monarchies have chosen another path: one of strategic cooperation, economic entwinement, and silent assent.

From normalization deals to covert military coordination, Persian Gulf regimes have morphed into indispensable pillars of support for Tel Aviv’s war machine. Their role, though veiled in diplomatic language and obscured by a façade of neutrality, is now undeniably one of enabler and facilitator.

From Silent Partners to Strategic Allies

The 2020 Abraham Accords, in which the UAE and Bahrain openly normalized relations with Israel, were just the visible tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have played roles just as critical — if not more so — in bolstering Israel’s regional standing.

Though Riyadh hasn’t formally signed normalization papers, it has shaped the region’s diplomatic landscape to accommodate Tel Aviv. Qatar, meanwhile, has operated under the pretext of mediation, all while maintaining open economic channels and military ties that benefit the occupation. Such behavior makes a mockery of the Palestinian cause — a cause these states once claimed to champion.

Statements from Israeli and American officials only confirm what many have suspected for years. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has openly acknowledged the shift, stating that Arab regimes now view Israel not as an enemy but as an ally. Donald Trump once bluntly declared that Israel "would be in big trouble without Saudi Arabia.” These are not throwaway lines — they are admissions of an ugly truth.

Economic Fuel for Occupation

Even as Palestinians starve under siege, trade between Israel and its Gulf allies continues to flourish. The UAE has emerged as Israel’s top Arab trading partner, while Bahrain’s commercial exchange with Tel Aviv has soared by nearly 1,000 percent since the war began. These staggering figures are a stain on the conscience of the Muslim world.

The complicity doesn’t stop at trade. Gulf brands like Al Barakah Dates (UAE), Hunter Foods (UAE), and Durra (Saudi Arabia) continue to ship kosher-certified products into Israel. Bahrain has even legitimized products made in illegal West Bank settlements.

Worse still, Gulf investments are flowing directly into Israel’s settlement expansion projects. Firms tied to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar have quietly invested in Phoenix Holdings — a financial conduit for banks and construction firms actively building on stolen Palestinian land.

When Yemen's naval resistance cut off shipping lanes in the Red Sea, it was the Gulf states — not allies of Palestine — who stepped in to restore Israel’s food supply routes. The UAE created a land corridor through Saudi Arabia and Jordan, while Bahrain retooled its ports for Israeli-bound cargo. This is what betrayal looks like in 21st-century geopolitics.

Arms, Ammunition, and Aerial Bridges

On the military front, the Gulf’s betrayal is even more damning. The UAE has facilitated arms shipments to Israel through firms like Yugoimport-SDPR, with at least $17 million in weapons exported during the Gaza onslaught. Emirati defense giant EDGE holds shares in Israeli arms firms like Rafael and Israel Aerospace Industries, helping militarize Emirati aircraft in partnership with the very companies bombing Gaza’s hospitals and refugee camps.

At IDEX 2025, a global arms expo, 34 Israeli firms showcased their wares in Abu Dhabi — less than 100 days after Israeli missiles buried hundreds of Palestinians in rubble. The message was clear: arms and profits matter more than lives.

Even states without formal ties, like Saudi Arabia, are complicit. They purchase Israeli weapons through US intermediaries, reassemble drones under different labels, and deploy Israeli-designed anti-drone systems at military bases.

Qatar, while posturing as Gaza’s benefactor, has quietly participated in military drills alongside Israeli forces and sourced Israeli tank parts. Hypocrisy cloaked in humanitarian rhetoric.

Logistics of War

The logistics of genocide require fuel, flights, and freight — and the Gulf delivers. As the US launched its massive arms airlift to Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain opened their airspaces and military bases for transit. Qatar’s Al-Udeid Air Base served as a key hub, with at least 18 weapons transfers routed through its facilities.

Dubai became a nexus for Israeli reservists flying in from Asia. Jewish organizations in the UAE coordinated rest and recreation retreats for Israeli troops in between deployments — while those same soldiers returned to Gaza to slaughter children.

Energy and Surveillance: The New Frontiers

Economic normalization has extended into energy and surveillance. A proposed oil pipeline connecting Ashkelon to Saudi Arabia — part of the US-led IMEC — symbolizes this betrayal. Bahraini oil companies are already selling stakes to BlackRock, a firm financially tied to illegal Israeli settlements.

Israeli surveillance tech has infiltrated Gulf infrastructure. Bahraini and Emirati companies are partnering with Mossad-linked cyber firms, embedding Israeli security systems into their critical infrastructure. This not only endangers Palestinian freedom — it jeopardizes the sovereignty of their own people.

The War Behind the War

In secret meetings hosted by US Central Command, Gulf military officials have coordinated with Israel to disrupt Palestinian resistance and block regional support. From Bahrain to Saudi Arabia, regimes that once raised the banner of Islamic unity now collaborate to suppress it.

This is not passive neutrality. It is active participation in the destruction of Gaza.

A Final Betrayal

While Gaza's mosques crumble, its hospitals burn, and its children die of hunger, the Gulf monarchs toast to trade deals, count their dividends, and sign arms contracts.

The Palestinian people are not just fighting Israel. They are fighting a multi-front war against betrayal — by neighbors who speak their language, recite their scriptures, but sell their cause for oil, arms, and access to Western power.

In history’s ledger, the names of these rulers will not be counted among the righteous. They will be remembered for what they were: accomplices in a genocide. (ILKHA)