As Israel's relentless aggression on Gaza rages on, leaving tens of thousands of Palestinians dead and wounded, the United Arab Emirates has unveiled a staggering $1.4 trillion investment plan in the United States — the chief sponsor and enabler of the Israeli occupation and its ongoing crimes against the Palestinian people.

The announcement was made by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during high-profile talks with US President Donald Trump at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi. The Emirati leader hailed the United States as a "strategic partner," underscoring plans to funnel vast capital through state investment institutions into sectors such as energy, artificial intelligence, advanced technology, and aerospace — industries deeply intertwined with military and surveillance infrastructure.

Critics have denounced the timing of the pledge, made as Trump doubles down on Washington’s unconditional military and political support for Israel's genocidal assault on the besieged Gaza Strip and West Bank. Human rights advocates argue that such financial cooperation normalizes US policies that are complicit in war crimes against Palestinians.

While the UAE president reaffirmed his country’s commitment to regional “peace and stability,” observers have accused Abu Dhabi of turning a blind eye to the carnage in Gaza. “They are shaking hands with the architect of Gaza’s suffering while Palestinian children are being bombed and starved,” said a spokesperson for the International Coalition for Palestine Justice.

In a pointed remark, Al Nahyan quoted Trump’s past words about US-UAE partnership in “peace and security efforts,” claiming: “Abu Dhabi is committed to continuing our joint work with Washington.” This statement comes as Washington vetoes ceasefire resolutions and continues to supply weapons and diplomatic cover to Israel amid international calls for accountability.

Trump, who was welcomed at Abu Dhabi airport and later toured the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque with Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has used his Gulf visit to reinforce alliances with regional regimes increasingly seen as detached from the Palestinian cause.

The UAE is Trump’s final stop after visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar — three governments criticized by grassroots movements for their silence, or worse, collusion in the face of genocide in Gaza.

Notably, this marks the first visit to Abu Dhabi by a sitting US president since George W. Bush in 2008 — a symbolic moment underscoring deepening Emirati-American ties, now increasingly viewed as coming at the direct expense of Palestinian lives and dignity. (ILKHA)