New York: The United Arab Emirates has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to support former U.S. President Donald Trump’s 21-point Gaza peace plan, while warning Israel against any unilateral annexation of West Bank territory. The call came during a meeting between UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and Netanyahu at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The UAE stressed that any move toward annexation would jeopardize the Abraham Accords and derail efforts to expand normalization with other Arab and Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia and Indonesia.

Officials in Abu Dhabi view Trump’s plan as a framework that balances Israel’s security concerns with Palestinian aspirations, calling for Hamas disarmament, rebuilding Gaza under international oversight, and eventual conditional statehood for Palestinians.

The United States has indicated that an agreement on the plan is close, with Trump himself stating he will not permit West Bank annexation. Israeli officials, however, have voiced reservations over key elements of the proposal, including the future role of Palestinian security forces and international oversight mechanisms in Gaza.

Despite ongoing diplomatic discussions, fighting continues on the ground. Israeli forces have intensified operations around Gaza City as negotiations advance. At the same time, a draft of a postwar governance model has surfaced, suggesting the creation of a Gaza International Transitional Authority, reportedly with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in a leading role. The proposal has drawn criticism over concerns that it could sideline Palestinian representation.

The UAE’s warning underscores its increasing leverage in regional diplomacy, linking the stability of normalization deals with Israel’s compliance on sensitive issues. As Netanyahu prepares for further talks with Trump in Washington, the question remains whether Israel will align with the U.S. plan or pursue a harder line that risks alienating Arab partners.