From: The Times of Israel February 14, 2025
Trump: I’d take a hard stance on Gaza tomorrow, but I can’t say what Israel will do

US President Donald Trump tells reporters in the Oval Office, “I don’t know what’s going to happen at 12 o’clock” — a reference to the deadline he put in place earlier this week, saying all hell should come down on Gaza if all remaining hostages aren’t released by Saturday at noon.

The deadline — issued amid frustration with the condition of the hostages released last weekend — would go against the terms of the deal that Israel and Hamas inked last month, with Trump’s help.

Israel has apparently sought to gingerly stick with the existing deal’s terms without upsetting Trump, sending messages to Hamas through mediators that it is prepared to continue with the deal if the terror group releases three hostages on Saturday as stipulated.

“If it was up to me, I’d take a very hard stance. I can’t tell you what Israel is going to do,” Trump tells reporters.

Witkoff said working to secure early release of remaining phase one living hostages next week

Channel 12 reports that US President Donald Trump’s Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff is working to try and secure the release of the remaining living hostages already next week.

After 3 hostages are released on Saturday, there will be 6 remaining hostages believed to be alive who are slated to be released before the end of the first phase. The deal stipulates that those 6 will be released on February 22 and March 1 but Witkoff is working to move that timeline up, Channel 12 says

Trump: "All of them, not in drips and drabs, not two and one and three and four and two,"

From: The Times of Israel February 14, 2025

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar says:
“The Palestinians are more interested in destroying Israel” than establishing a state of their own.

He says in response to a question from a Palestinian reporter during an appearance at the Munich Security Conference:
1. “We have an enemy who has never abandoned the path of incitement,”
2. “What you call Palestine — this is the land of Israel.”


From: Haaretz February 12, 2025
'solving a problem by creating a larger one'

Moving Gazans to Jordan and Egypt Would Threaten Israeli Security, Senior Israeli MK Says:

Likud lawmaker Yuli Edelstein is the first Israeli official to openly question Trump's push for Jordan and Egypt to absorb hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from Gaza, calling it 'solving a problem by creating a larger one'

A senior Israeli lawmaker said on Tuesday that moving the Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip into Jordan and Egypt, as U.S. President Donald Trump had suggested, would create serious security risks for Israel.

The Guardian February 16, 2025

Israel has received a shipment of heavy MK-84 bombs from the United States, after Trump lifted a block imposed on the export of the munitions by the administration of his predecessor, Joe Biden, the defence ministry said on Sunday.

The MK-84 is an unguided 2,000 pound bomb, which can rip through thick concrete and metal, creating a wide blast radius.

The Biden administration declined to clear them for export to Israel out of concern about the impact on densely populated areas of the Gaza Strip.

Haaretz February 16, 2025
Trump's Ultimatum Fizzled Out, but Netanyahu Could Still Block Gaza Deal's Second Stage

Besides facing an imminent decision regarding Gaza –
1. continuing with the deal,
2. resuming the war or
3. extending the first stage of the present deal

Israel is also arriving at a critical turning point in Lebanon, with the temporary cease-fire set to end on Tuesday

Saturday's release of three Israeli hostages abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz – Sasha Troufanov, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Iair Horn – marked the completion of the sixth phase of the first stage of the hostage deal.

latest 3 hostages for 369 terrorists and detainees

The Guardian February 16, 2025
Since the truce began last month 19 Israeli hostages have been released in exchange for more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Hamas and Israel are implementing the first 42-day phase of the ceasefire that nearly collapsed last week after Hamas said it would pause releases over Israeli ceasefire violations.

Israel has also accused Hamas of ceasefire violations.

Netanyahu credited “President Trump’s firm stance” with ensuring Saturday’s releases went ahead.

Out of 251 people seized in Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the war 70 remain in Gaza, including 35 the Israeli military says are dead.

The second phase of the ceasefire, still to be negotiated, is expected to include the release of the remaining hostages and discussions on ending the war.

“Israel will now have to decide what they will do,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“The United States will back the decision they make!”

In a statement, Hamas said that today’s hostage release shows there is no way to free the hostages held in Gaza
1. “except through negotiations
2. and by adhering to the requirements of the ceasefire agreement”.

The group added: a response to US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Palestinians resettle in neighbouring countries
“We say to the whole world: there is no migration except to Jerusalem,”

Terrorists still calling the shots

The Guardian February 16, 2025
Trump’s Gaza plan has heightened tensions.

Rubio expected to push Trump plan to displace Palestinians from Gaza on trip to Israel

The US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, will discuss the Gaza ceasefire with Israel’s prime minister in Jerusalem, launching a Middle East tour a day after the latest hostage-prisoner exchange.

US secretary of state is making his first trip to region and is expected to advocate Trump’s plan to create ‘Riviera of the Middle East’

On his first visit to the region as Washington’s top diplomat, Rubio is expected to push the US president Donald Trump’s widely condemned proposal to take control of the Gaza Strip and relocate its more than 2 million residents – which experts say would amount to ethnic cleansing.

Washington has said it is open to alternative proposals from Arab governments but insists that, for now, “the only plan is Trump’s”.

Rubio is also due to visit Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, with tough talks expected on Monday in Riyadh, a key player in Trump’s regional strategy.

The US president has warned of repercussions for neighbouring Egypt and Jordan unless they accept displaced Palestinians in Gaza.

Diplomats say Egypt is leading efforts to propose an alternative within weeks, focused on training a new security force and appointing local Palestinian leaders.

Rubio said he believed Arab states were “working in good faith” but insisted Hamas must have no future role.

Haaretz February 15, 2025
Egypt Reportedly Applying 'Heavy Pressure' to Prevent Hamas From Controlling Gaza Reconstruction

Egyptian media reports suggest, Hamas has agreed not to have a representative on the Gaza reconstruction committee.

Officials told Haaretz the timing is meant to offer an alternative to Trump's expulsion plan and push Israel forward in negotiations

Several Egyptian news outlets reported on Saturday that Cairo is exerting heavy pressure on Hamas to agree to the establishment of a temporary committee to oversee the implementation of Gaza's reconstruction plan.

From: The Jerusalem Post February 16, 2025
all hell did not break out:

'All hell breaks out': Will Trump and Netanyahu's unfulfilled threat haunt them? - analysis
Hamas did release three hostages. However, all hell did not break out.

“Promises made, promises kept” is a recurring phrase used by Trump administration officials to describe his first whirlwind month in office.

US President Donald Trump’s press secretary used the phrase at the end of a 95-second video earlier this month, summing up some of his early moves, such as deporting criminal illegal immigrants, resuming construction of the wall on the Mexican border, and doing away with diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in the government and the military.

The phrase also often appears as a subheading in fact sheets the White House issues explaining specific policies, such as a recent move to end mandated COVID-19 vaccines in schools and establishing a White House faith office.

A CBS News/YouGov poll last week found that 70% of Americans believe the president is doing what he campaigned on – meaning the vast majority think he is keeping his promises, whether they like them or not.

But what about the threats?

Trump has also made threats both during the campaign and while in office, some of them relating to Israel and the hostages.
1. Is he acting on those as well?
2. And if not, what will be the ramifications?

His first threat, as it relates to Israel, came well before he was inaugurated, when he said that if the hostages were not released by the time he came into office on January 20 there would be “hell to pay.”

January 20 came, and – while not all the hostages were released – a ceasefire was declared that led to the release of some of them, a ceasefire attributed in no small part to the pressure he placed on all the parties: Hamas, via Egypt and Qatar, and Israel.

Trump could explain that the gates of hell did not open wide even though the hostages were not all released by saying that some hostages were released, which was his intent all along, and that this was a better outcome than what had transpired over the last year under the Biden administration.

The president’s most recent threat in this context came last Monday, a day after Hamas made a threat of its own:
that it would not release the three hostages scheduled for the sixth tranche if Israel did not allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, including mobile homes.

After hearing that, Trump again issued a threat, saying that if all the hostages were not released by Saturday at noon, the ceasefire should be canceled and “let all hell break out.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli officials pounced upon that threat.

Not to be outflanked by Trump, Netanyahu issued a threat of his own after convening the security cabinet, saying,
What ensued was difficult to follow, with various officials giving differing interpretations of whether Netanyahu’s threat referred to,
1. all the hostages, as Trump said,
2. or only to the three that were to be released on Saturday
3. or the nine living hostages to be released under the first phase of the ceasefire deal.

The final result: Hamas released three hostages. All hell, however, did not break out.

Trump, aware that unfulfilled threats will damage his credibility, made clear on his social media platform on Saturday that any consequences for Hamas not releasing all the hostages would be Israel’s responsibility to deal with, not the US

1. “Hamas has just released three hostages from Gaza, including an American citizen.
2. They seem to be in good shape!
3. This differs from their statement last week that they would not release any hostages,”
4. “Israel will now have to decide what they will do about the 12:00 O’CLOCK, TODAY, DEADLINE imposed on the release of ALL HOSTAGES.
5. The United States will back the decision they make!”

This was a clear message to all: It’s not that Trump did not back up his threat with action, but instead, he deferred to Israel, which – as it turned out –
1. decided to proceed with the ceasefire plan as originally structured
2. and not take military action to change it midstream
3. and possibly jeopardize the lives of the remaining hostages still to be released.

In his statement to the press alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday, Netanyahu also felt the need – to preserve credibility – to explain why he did not follow through with the threat of widespread military action even though not all the hostages were released.

Just like Trump, Netanyahu did not want to leave Israel’s enemies with the impression that he was not backing up his threat, so he engaged in some creative rhetorical calisthenics alongside Rubio to dispel that perception.


The threats Trump and Netanyahu issued and how they walked them back reflect the complex dynamics of diplomacy and an understanding of the negative impact of unfulfilled threats.

While the threats did achieve some aims, namely the release of the three hostages on Saturday, they fell short of the ambitious goal Trump spelled out:
the release of all hostages.

Some argue that the fact all hell did not break loose at noon on Saturday shows there was little to Trump’s threat;
others contend that without such threats, Hamas might never have agreed to even that release.

Trump’s unfulfilled threat may affect his and the US’s credibility in international affairs.
Interestingly, the American domestic and international audiences may view the threats and lack of follow-up differently.

Internationally, the reliability of leaders is generally diminished when they issue threats and do not back them up.
This may lead other international actors to question the seriousness of Trump’s words.

For instance, he said last week that he might stop aid to Jordan and Egypt:
1. if they fail to take in Gazan refugees under his proposal to relocate Gazans
2. and then rebuild the coastal strip under US control.

What conclusions are being drawn in Cairo and Amman, however, from the ultimatum he issued on the hostages that simply came and went?

Moreover, issuing threats without follow-up may embolden Hamas and others in the region – such as the Iranians – who might see this lack of follow-through as a lack of determination and act accordingly.

On the other hand, the lack of immediate consequences for the failure to release all the hostages could also be read as a sign of diplomatic flexibility – suggesting that despite the rhetoric, there is room for maneuvering with Trump and, following an opening gambit, he will show pragmatism.

However, for the American domestic audience, particularly those who support Trump, the very issuing of an ultimatum could be seen as a sign of strength, of America asserting itself abroad, regardless of the follow-up.

In this case, the threat itself is framed as a bargaining tactic intended all along to create leverage to achieve a more limited goal.

While many Americans might see this tough talk as a sign of strength, the words alone are sure to lose their punch and effectiveness over time if not followed up by real action.

From: The Times of Israel February 16, 2025

US President Donald Trump says he told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, “You do whatever you want,” with regard to the hostage release-ceasefire deal.

Trump does not specify when he conveyed this message to Netanyahu.

Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, Trump is asked about the Saturday deadline he imposed for Hamas to release all of the hostages, which passed without incident.

Trump, for the first time, explicitly says that he made the threat because Hamas had said it would not be releasing the three hostages that it was slated to release on Saturday, under the terms of the deal.

Over the past several days, US officials have argued that it was Trump’s threat that led Hamas to back down from its own threat not to release any hostages.

But the Trump threat would have contradicted the terms of the deal, which only stipulated Hamas release three hostages on Saturday, not all of them.

Trump, when he first made the threat of “hell raining down” on Hamas, clarifies that he is leaving it up to Israel to decide what to do.

Trump tells reporters that Hamas agreed to deliver the three hostages, including an American citizen — Sagui Dekel-Chen — because of this threat.

He also notes that the hostages released this weekend “were in pretty good shape,” unlike the ones released a week ago, whom Trump says looked like “Holocaust survivors.”

As for the next steps in the hostage deal, Trump says, “That’ll be up to Israel… in consultation with me.”

From: Haaretz February 16, 2025

Rubio Came to Israel to Save Netanyahu. But What Does Trump Get Out of It?
Benjamin Netanyahu fears Trump's wrath, but he is also panicking for his political survival.

That's why after every intervention the Trump team makes to save the hostages in Gaza, it needs to make a second one to rescue Netanyahu

For the second time in two weeks, the Trump administration has saved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from a political crisis that threatened the stability of his governing coalition.

Hind Rajab Foundation files ICC complaint against Gideon Sa'ar
The Jerusalem Post by Yuval Barnea 16 February 2025

Extracts:

• Hind Rajab Foundation files complaint against Gideon Sa'ar to ICC before Brussels visit

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar is scheduled to visit Brussels in a few days as part of his diplomatic work.

The Hind Rajab Foundation announced on Sunday that it had officially filed a complaint to the International Criminal Court against Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar for war crimes and crimes against humanity

They accused Sa'ar of "shaping and implementing policies" that have led to,
1. mass displacement,
2. collective punishment
3. and systematic attacks on Palestinian civilians

They cite Saar's public statements and policy endorsements as indicative of direct and indirect participation in them, calling them "incitement to violence and obstruction of international justice mechanisms"

Sa'ar is scheduled to visit Brussels in a few days Belgium, where the organization is based, has been a hotspot for lawsuits against IDF soldiers and Israeli politicians

Hind Rajab Foundation files ICC complaint against Gideon Sa'ar
The Jerusalem Post by Yuval Barnea 16 February 2025

Extracts:

• Who's behind the Hind Rajab Foundation - Dyab Abou Jahjah

The organization has launched lawsuits against Israelis in a variety of countries, such as Ecuador, UAE, Brazil, Argentina, Sri Lanka, France, Netherlands, Cyprus, Thailand, the UK and as previously mentioned, Belgium

• Dyab Abou Jahjah and Hezbollah

The Jerusalem Post previously reported that the foundation's founder, Dyab Abou Jahjah, has extensive connections with Hezbollah, having worked for several parts of Hezbollah's terror financing network

• Abou Jahjah's political asylum lies

Abou Jahjah claimed in 2003 in a New York Times article that he joined Hezbollah to fight Israel but left in 1991 to gain political asylum in Belgium

In the same article, Abou Jahjah admitted to having lied about getting into a conflict with Hezbollah's leadership in order to have his asylum claim accepted

Abou Jahjah told New York Times,

Rubio: Hamas ‘must be eradicated’
Al Jazeera and News Agencies 17 February 2025

Extracts:

• Rubio says Hamas ‘must be eradicated’ casting doubt on the shaky Gaza ceasefire deal

US secretary of state endorses Israel’s war aims in the Gaza Strip during meeting with Israeli PM Netanyahu

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has fully endorsed Israel’s war aims in the Gaza Strip, saying Hamas “must be eradicated” and throwing the future of the shaky ceasefire into further doubt

Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in West Jerusalem on Sunday at the start of a regional tour, where he is likely to face pushback from Arab leaders over US President Donald Trump’s proposal to "displace" the Palestinian population from the Gaza Strip and redevelop it under United States ownership, a plan that human rights organisations have called ethnic cleansing

Rubio told reporters,Netanyahu welcomed the plan, also referring to it as “bold” and said he and Trump have a “common strategy” for Gaza’s future

Echoing Trump, Netanyahu said,

Rubio: Hamas ‘must be eradicated’
Al Jazeera and News Agencies 17 February 2025

Extracts:

• Rubio: Hamas “cannot continue as a military or government force”

The leaders’ remarks came just two weeks before the first phase of the ceasefire in Israel’s war on Gaza, which has killed more than 61,700 Palestinians [according to terrorists Hamas-run local ministry] is set to end

The second phase – in which Hamas is to release dozens of remaining captives in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces – has yet to be negotiated

Rubio said,
Such language could complicate efforts to continue talks with Hamas which despite suffering heavy losses in the war, remains intact and in control of Gaza

Rubio: Hamas ‘must be eradicated’
Al Jazeera and News Agencies 17 February 2025

Extracts:

• second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal

The US Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, said on Sunday that talks on the second phase of the ceasefire would continue this week, after he had “very productive and constructive” calls with,
1. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
2. Egypt’s director of intelligence
3. and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani

Witkoff said,
Netanyahu’s office confirmed on Sunday that an Israeli negotiating team would fly to Cairo on Monday for more talks on the Gaza ceasefire agreement and its implementation

Rubio: Hamas ‘must be eradicated’
Al Jazeera and News Agencies 17 February 2025

Extracts:

• Terrorists invulnerable

Former US diplomat Nabeel Khoury said Rubio has broken with the traditional setup for US diplomats to first meet with the Israeli government and then the Palestinian Authority which has some control in the occupied West Bank

Khoury told Al Jazeera,Khoury added, arguing that
Osama Hamdan, a senior spokesperson for Hamas, told Al Jazeera,
Hamdan said,Hamdan added,unfortunately true about every terrorist group Still standing Still firing

Rubio: Hamas ‘must be eradicated’
Al Jazeera and News Agencies 17 February 2025

Extracts:

• With Trump ‘we will finish the job’

Following the meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Netanyahu said, Israel and the US are both determined to thwart Iran’s nuclear ambitions and its “aggression” in the Middle East

Rubio said,
Netanyahu said, not enough to knock any of the terrorist groups nor Iran out -- 16 months on....

Meanwhile the Israeli military said it carried out an air strike early on Sunday on people who approached its forces in southern Gaza
The Gaza Interior Ministry said the strike killed three of its policemen while they were securing the entry of aid trucks near Rafah, on the Egyptian border

Hamas said,
1. the attack was a “serious violation” of the ceasefire
2. and accused Netanyahu of trying to sabotage the deal

Osama Hamdan, a senior spokesperson for Hamas, told Al Jazeera,Terrorists still calling the shots

released Palestinian prisoners 'wearing' blue Star of David T-shirts
Haaretz by Gideon Levy 16 February 2025

Extracts:

• released Palestinian prisoners 'wearing' blue Star of David T-shirts

If Anyone Should 'Not Forget nor Forgive,' It's the Palestinians

A picture is worth a thousand words: Hundreds of Palestinian detainees and prisoners who were released on Saturday are,
1. seen on their knees, in prison, wearing white T-shirts bearing a blue Star of David
2. and the words "we will not forget nor forgive"

Israel thereby forced them into becoming walking banners of Zionism in its most despicable form
Sure thing unbecoming and unnecessary Show a little class! Israel Besides disrespect to the Star of David as well

Last week it was bracelets with a similar message:
Footage aired by Israeli media showed Palestinian prisoners in sweatshirts bearing a Star of David and the slogan:
The Palestinians tore the T-shirts off upon reaching Gaza and burned them, in a bonfire at the reception point in Khan Younis

From: The Times of Israel February 17, 2025
Lebanon extends Iran flight ban after US says Israel might shoot down planes

Officials in Beirut announce indefinite suspension after halting 2 Iranian flights last week;
IDF has said Lebanon-based terror group using funds smuggled from Iran to rearm

Lebanese authorities said on Monday they had extended the suspension of inbound and outbound flights to Iran indefinitely, after originally barring Iranian planes from landing in Beirut until February 18

Authorities decided to “mandate the Minister of Public Works and Transport to extend the suspension period of flights to and from Iran,” the Lebanese presidency’s spokeswoman Najat Charafeddine told reporters after a cabinet meeting, without specifying when flights would resume.

The announcement came after Lebanon last week denied permission for two Iranian flights to land in Beirut, following allegations publicized by the IDF that Tehran was using civilian aircraft to smuggle cash to Beirut to arm the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah.

Lebanese security forces told Agence France-Presse earlier that the ban came after the United States, which helped broker a November 27 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, warned that the IDF might shoot the planes down.

The IDF said last week that the Iran-backed terror group was using the funds to rearm and that it had passed information on the smuggling attempts to a US-led committee supervising the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Lebanon’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation said on Thursday it had “temporarily rescheduled” some flights, including from Iran, until February 18 as it was implementing “additional security measures.”

The move prompted protests from supporters of Hezbollah, who blocked the road to the country’s only international airport in Beirut.

Charafeddine said authorities had given “strict instructions” to security forces
1. not to allow the airport road to be closed
2. and to reinforce the inspection of all planes at the airport.

Lebanon’s top diplomat will also follow up on the matter and “ensure the return of Lebanese travelers who are still in Iran,” she said.

On Friday, as Hezbollah supporters blocked the road to Beirut airport, a United Nations convoy was attacked,
1. leaving a vehicle torched
2. and two peacekeepers wounded.

On Sunday, Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem charged that the government’s decision to halt flights from Iran was “implementing an Israeli order.”

Following the announcement last week, Iran said in turn that it would not allow Lebanese flights to land until its flights were cleared to land in Beirut.

The IDF is set to withdraw from all Lebanese border villages and towns by Tuesday morning under the truce agreement, aside from five strategic positions near the border.

The IDF has begun to withdraw from southern Lebanon on Tuesday, but it will have around three times as many troops on the defense line of the border compared to before the war.

The Israeli military will maintain five outposts within southern Lebanon near the border, each manned by a company of troops, for an indefinite period.

From: The Times of Israel February 17, 2025
FM Sa’ar to US senators: Turkey cooperating with Iran to smuggle money to Hezbollah

Foreign minister also discusses developments related to Iran’s nuclear program with US delegation that includes deputy Middle East envoy

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on Monday accused Turkey of cooperating with Iranian attempts to smuggle money to Hezbollah in a meeting with a bipartisan group of US senators.

During the meeting at the Foreign Ministry, in which seven senators and Deputy Middle East Special Envoy Morgan Ortagus were present, Sa’ar told the group:
1. Iran has stepped up its efforts to finance Hezbollah,
2. and that Turkey has been an active participant in the process.

Sa’ar said, according to his office:
1. “There is an intensified Iranian effort to smuggle money into Lebanon for Hezbollah to restore its power and status,”
2. “This effort is being carried out, among other channels, via Turkey and with its cooperation.”

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been vocal in denouncing Israel since the beginning of its war on Gaza last year and has consistently expressed support for Hamas, which like the Turkish leader’s AKP party has close ties to the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood movement.

His rhetoric has been more lukewarm, however, on the gains Israel has made against Hezbollah in the past year, including the killing of the Shiite terror group’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah, in September 2024

At the time, analysts said Turkey could seize the opportunity to strengthen its regional influence in the face of Iran.

From: The Times of Israel February 17, 2025
Israeli companies display weapons at UAE defense fair

Israeli arms manufacturers are showcasing their weapons and other products at a defense fair in the United Arab Emirates, during a fragile ceasefire in a
15-month war between Israel and the terror group Hamas.

An Israeli pavilion stands among industry giants at the International Defense Exhibition (IDEX) and the Naval Defense and Maritime Security Exhibition (NAVDEX) held in the Gulf country’s capital Abu Dhabi until Friday.

“We are very pleased to be here,” says Boaz Levy, the president and CEO of IAI ranked among the 100 largest arms companies in the world in 2023 according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)

According to SIPRI the three Israeli manufacturers in the ranking, prominently featured at the Abu Dhabi show, recorded a record turnover of $13.6 billion in 2023 driven by Israel’s offensive on Gaza.

But for Levy, this has not stopped them from collaborating with allies in the region.

“Of course, some of our products are there (in Gaza) but we are a company that deals with technology and giving the end user the capabilities… required in the field, and that’s what we are doing on a day-to-day basis,”

The UAE normalized ties with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, brokered by the United States, during the first Donald Trump administration.

Since then, Israeli arm manufacturer EMTAN has attended every defense fair in Abu Dhabi.

sales manager Ron Pollak, whose firm makes small arms, rifles, pistols and sub-machine guns, says:
“We work a lot with the Abraham” countries,
“We really, really enjoy the hospitality and the friendship that we encounter here in the UAE.”

Last year, as civilian casualties mounted in Gaza, the French government banned Israeli companies from setting up stands or exhibiting hardware at the Euronaval defense trade fair. The decision was later thrown out by a Paris court.