UAE Billionaire Questions Israel Ties Over Minister's Gaza Killing Remarks

Prominent Emirati businessman Khalaf Ahmad al-Habtoor has questioned the viability of regional peace following statements by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who suggested killing 30 to 40 people in Gaza nightly and described Palestinians as 'not worthy of life.' Al-Habtoor, a billionaire and former member of the Federal National Council, condemned Ben Gvir's remarks as a 'dangerous moral decline' and questioned how coexistence could be discussed when an Israeli government minister openly advocates for mass killings.

Al-Habtoor's intervention is notable given the UAE's tight control over public expression and his past strong defense of the Abraham Accords, which he believed would moderate Israel. He noted that despite nearly three years of conflict in Gaza, the UAE maintains full diplomatic, commercial, and security ties with Israel, remaining its largest Arab trading partner with bilateral trade reaching $3.2 billion in 2025. Al-Habtoor emphasized that Gazans are human beings with the same right to life and dignity as everyone else.

Previously, US Senator Jacky Rosen had condemned Ben Gvir's calls for nightly killings and demanded his resignation, stating that such rhetoric was 'horrific and completely indefensible.' An Iranian official also accused Ben Gvir of setting a 'nightly quota' for killings in Gaza. Al-Habtoor also previously criticized US President Donald Trump for allegedly endangering Gulf partners.