​Despite Israel-Hamas war, the Abraham Accords are here to stay

Hamas's brutal attack on southern Israel on 7 October marked a turning point in the region. The terrorist group's massacres not only had immediate effects in Israel and the Gaza Strip, but also had consequences in the countries of the Middle East.

Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas, many countries - mostly Western - have expressed their support for Jerusalem, stressing the Jewish state's right to defend itself. Others, by contrast, have not only failed to condemn Hamas's brutal acts outright, but have gone so far as to justify these actions, denying that the Islamist group is a terrorist organisation.

In this regard, it is worth highlighting, for example, the controversial statements of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan - close to Hamas - who had recently managed to restore solid relations with Israel in several areas after years of estrangement and tensions. However, his support for the terrorist group and his criticism of Israel has prompted Jerusalem to withdraw its diplomatic staff from the country in order to re-evaluate ties with Ankara. 

On the other hand, it is worth noting that this Hamas-initiated war coincides with US efforts to normalise relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, thus expanding the Abraham Accords. These treaties, considered the 'Deal of the Century', have transformed the Middle East and North Africa, fostering Israel's regional integration and boosting security and cooperation.

Countries such as the Islamic Republic of Iran have always expressed their rejection of these agreements, which have brought great benefits to the nations involved. Indeed, several reports indicate that one of the motives for the Hamas attack was precisely to thwart the impending peace agreement between Jerusalem and Riyadh.

Now, in the midst of the Israeli offensive on Gaza aimed at rescuing more than 200 hostages and destroying Hamas infrastructure, as well as numerous criticisms from Arab and Muslim countries against Israel, the Abraham Accords take on a new dimension.

Despite the conflict, these treaties are "here to stay", as Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, a member of the UAE's Federal National Council and chairman of the Council's Defence, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee, says.

Abu Dhabi is "committed" to these agreements. "It is our future," Al Nuaimi stressed during a meeting organised by the European Jewish Association (EJA).

Likewise, these agreements should be expanded and encourage others to join. For the moment, in addition to the Emirates, other Arab countries that have normalised their relations with Israel in recent years include Morocco, Bahrain and Sudan.

On the other hand, as Al Nuami reminds us, there are countries that are "enemies" of these agreements, in a clear reference to Iran and Qatar -the main sponsors of Hamas- as well as terrorist groups.

For this reason, the Emirati points out that "we must not let them achieve their goals". "Israel is here to stay, to be part of our future", he added.  

Regarding the current war, Al Nuami condemned the "barbarity" of Hamas, stressing that common sense dictates that one should be against the terrorist group. However, he also stressed that a distinction must be made between the Palestinians and Hamas. "The war against Hamas will not succeed if we do not differentiate between Palestinians and Hamas. We have to show that we care about the Palestinians," he explained.

Al Nuami also referred to fake news and misinformation on social media about the war and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to the Emirati, these issues, as well as everything that happens in Israel and Gaza "impact on Jews all over the world".

Since the beginning of the war, there has been a worrying rise in anti-Semitism in places such as Europe and the United States. At many pro-Palestinian protests, which Al Nuami describes as "anti-Israel" demonstrations, anti-Jewish chants and extremist banners have been heard.

"We have to make sure that this is the last war in our region, that Palestinians and Israelis achieve security and prosperity," Al Nuami concluded, stressing that the current priority is to rescue the more than 200 Israeli hostages, including babies, children and the elderly.

In addition to Al Nuami, the meeting was attended by German MEP Nicola Beer, US Congressman Brad Schneider and Idan Roll, a member of the Israeli parliament (Knesset).

"As a child growing up in Jerusalem at the time of the intifada, I never imagined something like the Abrahamic Accords," Roll acknowledged. The 'Deal of the Century' not only brings hope for the region, but also demonstrates that there is "an alternative of prosperity, security and cooperation". For this reason, Roll stresses that the free countries of the West "should commit themselves" to these agreements.  

The Israeli MP also spoke about the current war, stressing that Israel "is fighting for its survival". Roll also pointed out that Israel has had no presence in Gaza since 2005, when all Israelis and Jews left the Palestinian enclave. A year later, in 2006, Hamas won the elections.

In this regard, Roll explains that Gaza "could have become Singapore, developing a successful economy", but instead "became a centre of terrorism". "We will not allow a return to the same scenario", the Israeli politician said, adding that he wants new leaders for Gaza who will be good for the "stability of the region and the Strip".

Schneider, who also chairs the caucus promoting the Abraham Accords in the US Congress, stressed that these treaties are "an opportunity for people of good will to show that Jews and Arabs belong to the same land".  

These agreements also create hope for Palestinians and Israelis for a better future. "The Abraham Accords are a platform that allows us to change the direction of the region, showing that Jewish Arabs can achieve prosperity, peace and security," he said.

Like Al Nuami, Schneider also spoke of the rise of anti-Semitism due, in part, to fake news on social media. "It's not just happening now, it's been happening for a long time," he lamented, denouncing the "double standards" regarding the conflict. 

Nicola Beer said that the Abraham Accords "are good tools to support Israel, peace and the fight against terrorism". Beer, like the other speakers, insisted on the danger of fake news in this war, which, as she pointed out, "started by Hamas, backed by Iran".

"The aggressor is Hamas and not the Israelis," said Beer, who also called for the history of the conflict to be known. "It is not the time to justify or to relativise what we have seen, because what we have seen is terrorism".