UAE billionaire questions normalisation with Israel after Ben Gvir calls for nightly killings of Palestinians

UAE billionaire Khalaf Ahmad al-Habtoor has questioned the possibility of normalising relations with Israel following Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir's call for nightly killings of Palestinians. Al-Habtoor, a prominent Emirati businessman with close ties to the UAE elite, condemned Ben Gvir's remarks in a post on X, expressing shock at the Israeli government minister's open advocacy for the mass killing of civilians in Gaza.

The billionaire, who is close to the UAE's ruling circles, did not propose any specific action against Israel but highlighted the contradiction between Ben Gvir's words and the pursuit of peace, negotiations, and coexistence. He emphasized that the Israeli government's rhetoric is dangerous and that the people of Gaza, like any other human beings, deserve life and dignity.

Despite the UAE's ongoing diplomatic, commercial, and security ties with Israel, Al-Habtoor's intervention carries significant weight, as he previously defended the Abraham Accords and argued that closer regional connections could encourage concessions from Israel.