The Arab Group at the UN on Friday called for the creation of a “Palestinian Riviera” in Gaza and rejected the displacement of its residents proposed by US President Donald Trump.
Mr Trump suggested last week that the US would “take over” the Gaza Strip, relocate the roughly two million Palestinians living there to countries such as Egypt and Jordan and redevelop the enclave into the “Riviera of the Middle East”. The proposal has received international backlash, particularly in the Arab world.
“This is not acceptable, whether it is against the people of Palestine or any other state,” Tariq Al Bannai, Kuwait's UN envoy, told reporters in New York, in his capacity as the current chairman of the Arab Group.
“We, the Arab countries, want to see a Riviera – a Palestinian Gaza Riviera in the independent and internationally recognised state of Palestine.”
For the Palestinian community, the notion of forced relocation brings back memories of the Nakba, the mass exodus they experienced during the establishment of Israel in 1948.
“We will not accept that whatever will happen will be at the expense of the Palestinian people. We paid more than enough, in terms of those who were killed in the Gaza Strip and in the West Bank,” said Riyad Mansour, Palestine’s UN envoy.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Thursday that Washington was eager to hear new proposals on Gaza from Arab governments but that, “right now the only plan – they don't like it – but the only plan is the Trump plan”.
Mr Al Bannai also highlighted the “alarming Israeli expanded aggression” in the West Bank and warned that such actions violate international law and “must stop immediately”.
He urged the 15-member Security Council to uphold and enforce the principles of a resolution that calls for an immediate and complete ceasefire; the return of Palestinian civilians to their homes and neighbourhoods in all areas of Gaza; the safe and effective distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale; and the rejection of any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the Gaza Strip.
Regional states, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, have repeatedly called for a Palestinian state, existing alongside Israel.
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
Most match wins on clay
Guillermo Vilas - 659
Manuel Orantes - 501
Thomas Muster - 422
Rafael Nadal - 399 *
Jose Higueras - 378
Eddie Dibbs - 370
Ilie Nastase - 338
Carlos Moya - 337
Ivan Lendl - 329
Andres Gomez - 322
The biog
Nickname: Mama Nadia to children, staff and parents
Education: Bachelors degree in English Literature with Social work from UAE University
As a child: Kept sweets on the window sill for workers, set aside money to pay for education of needy families
Holidays: Spends most of her days off at Senses often with her family who describe the centre as part of their life too
If you go...
Etihad flies daily from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, with fares starting from Dh2,807 return. Frequent high speed trains between Zurich and Vienna make stops at St. Anton.
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
