Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain warned the US that President Donald Trump’s post-war Gaza plan is in danger of collapse and that they will not finance reconstruction while Hamas retains weapons and territorial control.
Messages sent to Washington said mediators had been too lenient with Hamas on disarmament and enforcement. The warnings were delivered to Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with Arab and US diplomatic sources confirming the communications.
A Saudi diplomatic source said the kingdom will not participate further unless there is a decisive U.S. response and a change in the approach of Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey to compel compliance. Saudi Arabia is downgrading its engagement and is unlikely to attend Egypt’s planned reconstruction conference next month.
The critique centers on Hamas’s conduct since the ceasefire. The warnings cite armed street displays, extortion of merchants, assassinations of clan rivals, and categorical refusals to disarm.
“As long as Hamas retains its weapons, we will not continue with the process,” the message states.
A Saudi official underscored the red line, arguing Hamas “has inflicted enormous harm on the Palestinian people” and “will sabotage any force” that tries to restore order. He added that without a serious move to end Hamas’s influence in Gaza, “there is no chance of its rehabilitation and reconstruction.”
On the other hand, the UAE signaled it will keep funding relief and rebuilding in the south, where Israel maintains military control, but it will not back broader reconstruction without a framework for Hamas disarmament and for full civilian and security control by international forces as outlined in the Trump plan.
Gulf leaders’ absence at the Sharm el-Sheikh ceremony underscored the strains. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the UAE’s Mohammed bin Zayed skipped the event, a point Trump noted in his remarks.
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